Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Traffic Engineering

Traffic safety cameras in Minnesota

Minnesota’s Traffic Safety Camera System Pilot Project legislation authorizes MnDOT and the cities of Minneapolis and Mendota Heights to use traffic safety cameras to provide for education and enforcement of speeding violations, traffic-control signal violations, or both. The pilot program is allowed to run from Aug. 1, 2025, to July 31, 2029. 

MnDOT will install speed safety cameras in up to four locations beginning as soon as fall 2025, as part of a pilot project to evaluate the cameras as a traffic safety device in work zones. The cameras may be installed in two work zones as early as fall 2025, and in two other work zones in 2026 or later.

The cities of Minneapolis and Mendota Heights are testing speed safety cameras, and/or red light cameras, beginning in 2025. 

About speed safety cameras

Speed safety cameras are used in other states, and have been found to be effective at reducing fatal and life-changing crashes in areas where the cameras are deployed.

Drivers will see signs on the road to notify them where speed safety cameras are being used before entering work zones where the cameras are activated and issuing warnings. Vehicle owners may receive a warning letter when their vehicle is recorded traveling over the work zone speed limit.

The locations of MnDOT work zones with speed safety cameras can be found by clicking "Locations" below.

The cities of Minneapolis and Mendota Heights are installing speed safety cameras in other locations, visit their websites for more information including speed safety camera locations.

The speed safety camera systems being used for Minnesota’s pilot project work by recording images of license plates of vehicles traveling a set amount over the speed limit. In MnDOT work zones, if a vehicle is recorded by the camera going 10 mph above the work zone speed limit, a warning may be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle. This warning from MnDOT’s speed safety camera pilot program will not be associated with any penalty or citation. The system will not identify people in the vehicle.

MnDOT’s pilot project will test the functionality, engineering, and administrative aspects of speed safety cameras, with the intent to learn how they work for Minnesota and affect Minnesotans. The main goal is to study how they can be effective in improving safety in Minnesota work zones.

We also want to hear your comments on the safety camera program, both good and bad, so that we know what works and what doesn’t. The goal of this project is to design a system that works and improves safety for all Minnesotans traveling through our work zones. Contact us anytime at safetycameras.dot@state.mn.us.

MnDOT is committed to eliminating fatal and serious injury crashes on our roadways. Speeding in work zones – and particularly excessive speeding in work zones – puts drivers, passengers, and those working in the work zone at risk of having their lives changed instantly.

Other states have seen reductions in fatal and serious injury crashes as a result of using speed safety cameras. Several studies show crashes resulting in death or serious injury are reduced 19-56%. Overall speeds are also reduced.

This pilot project will evaluate the camera systems, how well they improve traffic safety, traffic management, and the dynamics of traffic and speeding during the project. Once the project is complete, we’ll issue a report on the findings of the project.

MnDOT is not authorized to install red light cameras as part of this pilot project. For information on red light cameras and their locations, contact the cities of Minneapolis and Mendota Heights.

MnDOT will install speed safety cameras in up to four work zones as early as fall 2025, to evaluate the cameras as a traffic safety device. Work zones include:

Contact the cities of Minneapolis or Mendota Heights for information on their traffic pilot projects, including locations.