EDMONTON, AB – The Alberta Government is trying to make sure that photo radar is used for traffic safety – not revenue – by implementing some new rules in the spring.
Starting in April, communities will have to provide better data to the provincial government that clearly justifies the locations where automated photo radar is used, to ensure it’s not just being used as a “cash cow”.
“Albertans can be confident these new rules will put a stop to photo radar ‘fishing holes’, or ‘speed traps’,” said Transportation Minister Rajan Sawhney. “This is about making sure photo radar will be used to improve traffic safety.”
Some of the new rules coming next year will restrict photo radar in areas where the speed limit is under 50 km/h, ensure that enforcement vehicles are clearly visible and eliminate double-ticketing within five minutes.
The current freeze on purchasing or upgrading photo radar equipment, or adding new locations, is also being extended to the end of 2022 in order to give municipalities more time to put these new rules in place.
In the 2019-2020 fiscal year alone, the Alberta Government says $203-million in revenue was generated in 26 municipalities where automated photo radar is enforced.