Rochester City Council Votes to Seek State Approval for Speed Enforcement Cameras

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Rochester City Council took the first step towards the addition of automated speed enforcement cameras in Rochester. 

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So far a pair of cities in the Twin Cities Metro have launched pilot programs for speed cameras. 

An automated speed enforcement camera went online in Mendota Heights in August and the City of Minneapolis went live with speed cameras at five different intersections in September. 

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Preliminary data released by the City of Minneapolis claims the cameras have reduced speeding drivers in the areas they are set up in.

Rochester To Seek Permission from State Lawmakers to Implement Speed Enforcement Camera Pilot Program

Prior to a vote on certifying the City of Rochester’s legislative priorities for next year’s legislative session, Ward 2 Councilmember Nick Miller introduced an amendment that would seek permission from state lawmakers for Rochester to launch a speed camera pilot program. 

Miller, who also serves on the Rochester Olmsted Council of Governments (ROCOG), says ROCOG is near completion of an action plan that identifies multiple roads in the Rochester area that have been deemed dangerous in part due to speed. 

Miller also noted that the earliest a potential pilot program could be implemented is in the 2027 budget year. Details regarding the number of cameras, where they will be placed and how the program would be administered would be determined at a later time.  

The amendment to add a request for legislative approval of a speed enforcement camera pilot program in Rochester passed on a 4-3 vote. 

Council members Shaun Palmer, Andy Friederichs and Normah Wahl opposed the amendment. 

Palmer and Friederichs indicated they want a larger sample size of results from the two other pilot programs, while Wahl characterized the amendment as something that was “added at the 11th hour.”