Judge won't block speed cameras that issued 12,000 tickets

Providence will update its speed camera tickets in the wake of a federal class-action lawsuit, Target 12 has learned.

The suit raised questions about the language used on the summons, alleging that “the violation notices do not specifically cite the state’s speeding laws; they only reference the law that allows for speed cameras.”

Victor Morente, a spokesperson for Mayor Jorge Elorza said in an email, “Although we believe that the summons which were issued clearly identify the speeding violation, we have included language in the updated summons which may more specifically highlight the violation the recipient has been cited for.”

Morente said the updated summons will be sent in the coming days. 

The lawsuit also challenges the court that handles violations and the $95 fine itself.

On Tuesday, District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. denied the plaintiffs’ request for a temporary restraining order, which would have blocked the city from issuing any new speed camera violations or collecting on existing tickets.

As Target 12 first reported, Providence issued more than 12,000 speed camera violations in the first 33 days of the speed camera program, which started in January.

At least dozens of speed camera violations were dismissed in municipal court due to errors on the tickets.

Rhode Island lawmakers first approved speed cameras in 2016 when they passed the Automated School-Zone-Speed-Enforcement System Act, permitting municipalities to install them within a quarter-mile of any type of school. The Providence City Council voted last May to enter into a contract with Conduent State and Local Solutions Inc. that allowed for up to 15 speed cameras to be installed around the city.

Tickets can be issued for any vehicle caught traveling at least 11 miles per hour over the posted speed limit between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, according to the contract with Conduent, the private vendor that oversees both speed cameras and red light cameras in the city. The cameras are also portable, and the city’s contract with Conduent allows for two to be moved to new locations each week.