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Photo radar review underway; Police Chief stands by use in Medicine Hat

May 11, 2017 | 5:53 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Some call it a necessary tool for safety. Others consider it a tool to line the pockets.

It’s the latter thought which has prompted a review from the provincial government about how municipalities and police use the service.

Transportation Minister Brian Mason announced the review of the program today, saying he wants to see justification for why photo radar is used in certain spots.

He adds they will be reviewing revenue figures to see how much money is being received by municipalities and other stakeholders.

Mason says the government is reacting to what he sees as a growing perception that photo radar is being used not to make roads safer, but as a cash cow.

Medicine Hat Police Chief Andy McGrogan welcomed the review of photo radar, noting the Police Commission completed a review of the system last year.

“The biggest thing was they wanted the revenue separated from the police budget, and kept with the city budget, which we’ve done,” he said.

McGrogan says police have heard concerns from the community about photo radar, but he still believes the service is of benefit to drivers in the city.

“We follow the provincial guidelines when we set those (radar) sites up,” he said. “We continually review them.

“Everybody has their opinions. I believe it does add to road safety in our community, and until we are told otherwise, we’ll continue to run photo radar as we have been and as we will be in the future shouldn’t change much.”

Mason says the review started three months ago, and is expected to be finished by the fall.

 

-With files from The Canadian Press