The city of St. Louis is taking several very expensive steps after the Supreme Court of Missouri struck down the city’s red-light camera ordinance. Officials in St Joe, where a similar program has been shut down for months, say the ruling won’t change anything right away.

St Louis officials say the city will refund roughly $5.6 million to motorists who paid red-light camera tickets over the past year and a half. The city immediately halted the red-light camera program and dismissed pending cases.

Officials say they are considering the best way to pay back the money and to mull creating a new red-light camera ordinance that passes legal muster.

Refunds only will go to motorists who paid tickets since Feb. 14, 2014. Anyone who paid a ticket before then was eligible for a class-action settlement amounting to about $20 per ticket.

Officials in St Joseph say the city’s cameras, installed at the Belt and Cook Road, and at the Belt and Frederick, will remain turned off as officials study the ruling and the ordinance.

(Staff and wire reports)