Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Traffic Engineering

Traffic safety cameras in Minnesota

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

The camera systems are part of a Traffic Safety Camera System Pilot Project required by the Minnesota Legislature. The legislation authorizes MnDOT and the Department of Public Safety to establish a traffic safety camera pilot program that provides 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.

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. The locations of the work zones can be found on this website.

Vehicle owners may receive a warning letter when their vehicle is recorded traveling over the work zone speed limit.

Speed safety cameras work by capturing images of vehicles traveling a set amount over the speed limit. In MnDOT work zones, if a vehicle is captured by the camera going 10 mph above the work zone speed limit, a warning will 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

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. We want to see how they can be effective in speed management and 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.

Speeding in work zones – and particularly excessive speeding in work zones – puts everyone in the work zone at risk. As speed differences increase, traffic problems also increase.

Many other states have installed speed safety cameras and found them effective at reducing fatal and life-changing crashes. Several studies show crashes resulting in death or serious injuries are reduced 19-56%. Overall speeds are also reduced.

This pilot project will evaluate the cameras, how they help traffic safety and 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 installing 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 beginning in fall 2025, to evaluate the cameras as a traffic safety device. Work zones include:

Contact the City of Minneapolis or the City of Mendota Heights for information on the locations of their traffic safety camera locations.