Minneapolis to Launch Speed Camera Pilot Program to Curb Dangerous Driving
Five Locations Targeted for Initial Camera Installation This September.
The City of Minneapolis is preparing to launch a speed camera pilot program this September in an effort to reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities. As part of the initiative, five automated cameras will be installed in high-risk areas throughout the city to catch and cite drivers speeding more than 10 miles per hour over the limit.
The cameras will be placed in north, northeast, south, and southwest Minneapolis, as well as downtown. These areas were selected based on data showing that 8–10% of drivers regularly exceed speed limits significantly, contributing to a high rate of injury-causing crashes.
Locations of the cameras:
On Fremont Avenue near W. Broadway
On 18th Avenue near Central Avenue NE.
On Chicago Avenue S. near Franklin Avenue E.
On Nicollet Avenue S. near 46th Street W.
On 3rd Street near 1st Avenue N.
The pilot program is part of the city’s broader Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2027. Between 2022 and 2024, 43 people died in speed-related crashes in Minneapolis. Another 19 fatalities involved red-light running, and 17 were attributed to a combination of both violations.
“All these people should be alive,” said Minneapolis Vision Zero Program Coordinator Ethan Fawley. “It is extra tragic that most of these people killed were not speeding or running red lights themselves. They were killed by somebody who was.”
Enforcement Begins with Warnings
The program will roll out in phases. During the first month, all violations will result in warnings. Starting in October, drivers caught going 10 mph or more over the speed limit will still receive a warning for their first offense. A second violation will trigger a $40 fine, while those caught going more than 20 mph over the limit will face an $80 penalty.
Instead of paying a fine for a first offense, drivers will have the option to complete an online driving course developed by the state. All citations will include video evidence of the offense and will be mailed to the registered vehicle owner, who will have the right to contest the ticket.
Long-Term Plans and Expansion
The pilot could be a preview of a much broader system. If successful, Minneapolis may expand to as many as 42 camera locations by 2029. Eleven additional priority areas are already under consideration for installation in 2026.
Minneapolis joins Mendota Heights as one of only two cities in Minnesota authorized by the Legislature to use speed cameras and issue tickets. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has also been granted permission to pilot speed enforcement in work zones, although only warnings will be issued in those cases.
Last week, the Minneapolis City Council approved a $12 million contract with NovoaGlobal to manage the system. The contract assumes revenue from issued tickets will eventually offset the cost—roughly 75,000 tickets annually.
“We hope it’s not that much,” said Fawley. “That would give the outcome we want—safer streets.” He noted that studies show speeding can drop by as much as 97% in areas where enforcement cameras are present.
Initially, cameras will only be used on city-owned roads. However, the city is exploring options to expand coverage in partnership with Hennepin County and the state, which could lead to additional cameras on major corridors like Lyndale Avenue or University Avenue.
Officials are also considering adding red-light enforcement capabilities to the system as early as next year.
Public Support and Safety First
According to Fawley, more than 80% of public feedback supported implementing the camera program.
“Speeding is the city’s No. 1 traffic concern,” he said. “Residents want safer streets, and this pilot is helping to do that.”
Source: Tim Harlow, Star Tribune