By rdnewsNOW staff

About Safety, Not Revenue

Alberta government changing photo radar rules

Nov 23, 2023 | 2:33 PM

The Alberta government says it is changing photo radar rules to ensure the focus is on traffic safety, not revenue generation.

The government says many Albertans have expressed growing frustration with the purpose and use of photo radar. To respond to these concerns, Alberta’s government says it implemented a pause on new photo radar equipment and locations on Dec. 1, 2019.

After receiving data from across the province, Alberta’s government says it is taking the first step of banning photo radar on ring roads in Calgary and Edmonton starting Dec. 1. At the same time, Alberta’s government says it will be engaging with municipalities and law enforcement over the next year on removing all “fishing hole” locations across the province.

The government says Albertans can be confident that going forward, photo radar will only be used to improve traffic safety.

“Alberta has the highest usage of photo radar in Canada, and these changes will finally eliminate the cash cow that affects so many Albertans,” says Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors. “Photo radar must only be used to improve traffic safety, and with theses changes, municipalities will no longer be able to issue thousands of speeding tickets simply to generate revenue.”

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The cap on any new photo radar equipment, programs or new photo radar locations will be extended until the one-year consultation with municipalities is complete on Dec. 1, 2024, say government officials.

Edmonton and Calgary will have the option to redeploy the photo radar units previously used on the ring roads to areas in their cities where they have a safety impact – in school, playground and construction zones.

“I am very pleased to see this change to allow our police force to redeploy photo radar from Stoney Trail into high-risk areas in our communities such as school zones, construction zones and playground zones due to changing traffic patterns. This will result in increased traffic safety for all Calgary drivers and pedestrians,” adds Andre Chabot, Ward 10 councillor, City of Calgary.

“Photo radar is about keeping people safe, not money. It is one tool the City of Edmonton uses to protect people on the roads. We will continue to engage with the Government of Alberta and law enforcement to ensure we are achieving the intended outcome of making our roads safer,” shares Karen Principe, Ward tastawiyiniwak councillor, City of Edmonton.

The government says Alberta’s first photo radar units were introduced in 1987 and now there are about 2,387 photo radar sites across the province. Calgary’s ring road has eight photo radar sites and Edmonton’s ring road has 22. Officials say these ring road photo radar sites can be relocated to sensitive areas.

This means that Calgary can select eight high-risk areas and Edmonton can select 22 high-risk areas to redeploy these sites.

“I am pleased to see this change will focus on using Automated Traffic Enforcement as a tool in the toolbox to improve traffic safety and driver behaviour, as we have done in Spruce Grove. We look forward to the upcoming consultation on this topic,” notes Jeff Acker, mayor, City of Spruce Grove.

“I am happy to see this important change to ensure that photo radar is focused on driver safety rather than revenue generation. This one-year consultation with municipalities will support Albertans by clearly identifying where the need for traffic safety improvements are most necessary in our communities,” says Kara Westerlund, vice-president, Rural Municipalities of Alberta.

Alberta government quick facts

• Photo radar generated $171 million in 2022-2023.
• Traffic fine revenue is split between the province and municipalities, with the province receiving 40 per cent and municipalities receiving 60 per cent.