Suffolk County $45 Million Red-Light Camera Settlement, Check If You Qualify — McGrath v. Suffolk County, Index No. 608155/2016

There’s up to $180 waiting for Suffolk County drivers — if you paid the county’s $30 red-light camera fee between April 1, 2013, and January 25, 2023. Suffolk County agreed to pay up to $45,000,000 combined after courts ruled the fee illegal under state law. You have until December 8, 2026, to file — Index No. 608155/2016, New York State Supreme Court.

Suffolk County Red-Light Camera Settlement — Key Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	Up to $45,000,000 for driver payments (total county exposure $57.5 million, including $12.5 million in attorneys’ fees and costs paid separately)
Claim Deadline	December 8, 2026
Who Qualifies	Anyone who paid Suffolk County’s $30 red-light camera administrative fee between April 1, 2013, and January 25, 2023
Estimated Payout	Up to $36 per violation ($30 fee plus $6 interest), capped at 5 violations per person or entity — maximum $180
Proof Required	UNVERIFIED — the official claim form may ask for ticket or vehicle information; check the form for exact requirements
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved; final approval hearing pending
Court & Case Number	Supreme Court of the State of New York, Suffolk County — Index No. 608155/2016
Law Alleged	Violation of New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1111-b, which caps red-light camera penalties at $50 plus an optional $25 late fee
Administrator	Kroll Settlement Administration LLC
Official Claim Site	SuffolkRedLightSettlement.com
Last Updated	September 16, 2026

Who Are Suffolk County and the Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, and Why Are They Being Sued?

Suffolk County ran one of Long Island’s largest red-light camera programs, and its Traffic and Parking Violations Agency processed the tickets and collected the fines. Under Local Law No. 20-2009, the county tacked a $30 “administrative fee” onto every red-light camera violation, on top of the state-authorized fine. New York courts eventually ruled that add-on fee illegal, because state law already sets the maximum penalty a county can charge for this exact violation.

What Did Suffolk County Do to Red-Light Camera Ticket Holders Between 2013 and 2023?

The lawsuit claims that from April 1, 2013, through January 25, 2023, Suffolk County collected a $30 administrative fee on every red-light camera ticket, stacked on top of the $50 fine New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1111-b already allows, plus an optional $25 late fee. Courts, including New York’s Appellate Division, ruled the fee illegal, finding it conflicted with the state’s statutory cap and exceeded the county’s home-rule authority.

Suffolk County still denies any wrongdoing, even in agreeing to settle. But the courts had already found the fee “invalid and preempted by state law” (case summary, Fines and Fees Justice Center) before the county chose to resolve the case rather than keep appealing.

Suffolk collected somewhere around $90 million to $91 million from this fee over a decade. The settlement caps driver refunds at $45 million — about half of what the county actually took in.

Who Qualifies for the Suffolk County Red-Light Camera Settlement?

Here’s exactly how to know if you qualify for the Suffolk County settlement claim, based on when you paid and how many tickets you got.

You likely qualify if you:

• Paid a $30 red-light camera administrative fee to Suffolk County between April 1, 2013, and January 25, 2023
• Owned a vehicle ticketed under the program, whether you’re an individual, a business, or another entity
• Paid the fee more than once — you can claim for up to 5 separate violations
• Received notice of this settlement in the mail or by email

You do NOT qualify if:

• You’re Suffolk County’s presiding judge, an immediate family member, or court staff connected to this case
• Your ticket was dismissed or reduced before you ever paid the $30 fee
• You paid the fee after January 25, 2023, when Suffolk stopped charging it

If you got even one red-light camera ticket in Suffolk County between 2013 and early 2023, there’s a good chance you paid this fee without ever knowing it was illegal. You don’t need to remember exactly how many — the claim form walks you through it.

Got a Ticket Somewhere Else on Long Island — Are You Still Covered?

No. This settlement only covers red-light camera tickets issued, and fees paid, within Suffolk County under its own local law. Nassau County and New York City run separate red-light camera programs with their own rules, and neither is part of this settlement.

Not sure if you qualify for the Suffolk County red-light camera settlement? A free consultation with a consumer rights attorney can help before the December 8, 2026, deadline.

How Much Can Suffolk County Red-Light Camera Settlement Class Members Get? Up to $180 Per Person

Your payout is simple math: $36 for every red-light camera violation where you paid the $30 fee, up to a maximum of 5 violations. That tops out at $180 per person or entity. The catch is the $45,000,000 fund is capped — if the total amount of valid claims filed goes over that, the administrator reduces everyone’s payment pro rata instead of paying the full $36 per ticket. Suffolk County pays administrative costs and attorneys’ fees separately, so those don’t shrink the driver fund.

Why $36 and Not Just $30

The extra $6 is interest on the $30 fee for the years Suffolk held onto money courts later ruled it never should have collected.

What Happens If Claims Exceed $45,000,000

With roughly 300,000 tickets issued under the program before it shut down, the county already has a rough sense of how many people could file. If total claims blow past the cap, the fund gets divided proportionally, meaning your check could land under $36 per ticket.

Got more than 5 tickets during those ten years? You can still list every one on your claim form, but the payout caps at 5 — the sixth ticket and beyond won’t add anything.

How to File Your Suffolk County Red-Light Camera Settlement Claim — Step by Step

1. Go to SuffolkRedLightSettlement.com and open the claim portal.
2. Look up your Class Member ID through the Contact Us page if you didn’t get one in the mail.
3. Enter your name, address, and the license plate or vehicle information tied to your ticket(s).
4. List each red-light camera violation where you paid the $30 fee, up to 5.
5. Choose your payment method — check, Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, or prepaid debit card — and submit.
6. Save your confirmation. Online claims and mailed claims postmarked by December 8, 2026 both count.

Takes about 10 minutes. Mark your calendar — claims and the final fairness hearing both fall on December 8, 2026.

Should Suffolk County Class Members Opt Out or Object Before November 9, 2026?

What Opting Out of the Suffolk County Settlement Actually Means

Opting out means no settlement payment, but you keep the right to sue Suffolk County on your own over this fee. Given the payout tops out at $180, most people have little reason to opt out and pursue an individual lawsuit instead. The opt-out deadline is November 9, 2026, and requests must be mailed.

How to Object to the Suffolk County Settlement

Objecting keeps you in the class while telling the court what you don’t like about the deal — the $45 million cap, the attorneys’ fees, or anything else. Objections must be postmarked or submitted by November 9, 2026, the same day as the opt-out deadline.

Talk to a consumer rights attorney before November 9, 2026, if you’re considering either option.

Suffolk County Red-Light Camera Settlement — Key Dates, 2026

Milestone	Date
Administrative Fee Charged (Claim Period Begins)	April 1, 2013
Suffolk County Stops Charging the Fee	January 25, 2023
Settlement Filed With Court	July 29, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	November 9, 2026
Objection Deadline	November 9, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	December 8, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	December 8, 2026, 10:00 a.m. ET
Expected Payment Date	UNVERIFIED — payment follows final approval; no date announced

Suffolk County Red-Light Camera Settlement — Frequently Asked Questions, Index No. 608155/2016

Do I need a lawyer to file a Suffolk County red-light camera settlement claim? 

No. Filing at SuffolkRedLightSettlement.com takes about 10 minutes. If you’re weighing whether to opt out and sue Suffolk County on your own, a consumer rights attorney can help before November 9, 2026.

Is the Suffolk County red-light camera settlement legitimate?

 Yes. It resolves McGrath v. Suffolk County, Index No. 608155/2016, in New York State Supreme Court, and is run by administrator Kroll Settlement Administration. The only official site is SuffolkRedLightSettlement.com.

When will Suffolk County settlement payments be sent? 

Not yet known. Payments follow the December 8, 2026, fairness hearing and final court approval. No payment date has been announced.

What if I missed the Suffolk County claim deadline? 

Claims must be submitted online or postmarked by December 8, 2026 — the same day as the fairness hearing. Check SuffolkRedLightSettlement.com directly if you’re close to that date.

Will my Suffolk County settlement payment go on a 1099? 

The settlement notice doesn’t specify. Since this refunds a fee courts ruled illegal rather than compensating for an injury, talk to a tax professional about how to report it.

How much will I get from the Suffolk County red-light camera settlement?

 Up to $36 for each red-light camera violation where you paid the $30 fee, capped at 5 violations for a maximum of $180. That amount could shrink if total valid claims exceed the $45,000,000 fund.

Is Suffolk County’s red-light camera program still running?

 No. The county stopped charging the disputed $30 fee on January 25, 2023, and later wound down the broader camera program.

Why did Suffolk County agree to settle instead of fighting the case further? 

New York courts, including the Appellate Division, had already ruled the $30 fee illegal under state law. Continuing to litigate risked a larger judgment, including years of statutory interest, so the county chose to settle after a decade of litigation that began in 2016.

Sources Used in This Suffolk County Red-Light Camera Article

• Official Settlement Site — Home, McGrath v. Suffolk County: https://www.suffolkredlightsettlement.com/
• Official Settlement Site — Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.suffolkredlightsettlement.com/faq
• Official Settlement Site — Important Documents: https://www.suffolkredlightsettlement.com/documents
• Fines and Fees Justice Center — “McGrath v. Suffolk County” case summary: https://finesandfeesjusticecenter.org/articles/mcgrath-v-suffolk-county/
• NBC New York — “Red light ticket refunds coming to drivers in Suffolk County,” 2026: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/long-island/red-light-ticket-refund-suffolk-county/6534330/

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the official settlement website (SuffolkRedLightSettlement.com) and court reporting on McGrath v. Suffolk County, Index No. 608155/2016, on September 16, 2026. Last Updated: September 16, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.