Florida Supreme Court rules red light cameras installed before 2010 were illegal

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida cities that installed red light cameras before the state authorized them will have to return millions of dollars in fines now that the Supreme Court has ruled they were illegal.

The court ruled that red light camera ordinances in Aventura and Orlando violated a state law that requires uniform traffic enforcement.

Thursday's decision only applies to cities that installed red light cameras before a 2010 law allowing them was enacted.

Red light cameras in Orlando and Aventura were challenged and two appeals courts had conflicting opinions.

The 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach said Orlando's red-light camera ordinance conflicted with state traffic laws. The 3rd District Court of Appeal in Miami, however, upheld red-light camera fines collected in Aventura before the new law was passed.