Some details about the province’s ongoing review of photo radar were released Wednesday to ensure “photo radar technology is used primarily for traffic safety, not for revenue.”.The province changes to the program coming into effect in April 2022. Those changes include:.restrictions on photo radar use in transition zones and on residential roads with less than 50 km/h speed limitsrestrictions do not apply to school, playground or construction zoneseliminating double ticketing within five minutesmandating all photo radar enforcement vehicles be clearly visiblerequiring rationale and data for sites to justify the use of photo radar.“We are taking action to tighten up the rules around photo radar,” said Minister of Transport Rajan Sawhney. “.“These changes respond to public concerns requesting the elimination of ‘fishing holes’ or speed traps while maintaining high levels of safety standards..“Municipalities will be required to collect and provide data to support current and future site selection for photo radar. This is all about enhancing safety on our roads.”.Municipalities have been given one year to enact the changes with the help and guidance of Alberta Transportation and the Alberta Justice and Solicitor General..“Photo radar should only be used for traffic safety – not as a cash cow to squeeze extra money from Albertans,” said Kaycee Madu, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General..“Our government has worked with police services and municipalities to implement changes that will ensure photo radar technology is used only to ensure our roads remain safe.”.AMA Vice President of Advocacy and Operations, Jeff Kasbrick, said AMA “supports the government’s new policy direction, as it will ensure photo radar’s use is transparent, informed by data and strictly about improving traffic safety, not generating revenue.”.In February of 2019, the province shared findings from an independent third-party review of photo radar operations in Alberta and found there was a “marginal contribution to traffic safety” and took steps to eliminate the use of the devices in certain circumstances..According to a government press release, the review showed the current photo radar guidelines were not contributing to better traffic safety and needed to be “directly tied to safety” rather than revenue generation..Then, in November 2019, the province put a temporary freeze on “new and expanded photo radar” use until December 1, 2021..The freeze banned municipalities from installing new photo radar equipment, upgrading existing photo radar devices and adding new photo radar locations..“Our goal is to ensure photo radar is used for safety, not to generate backdoor tax revenue,” said then Minister of Transportation, Ric McIver..“Albertans are skeptical about the impact photo radar has on safety and we do not have useful data to analyze so we can make a decision.”.McIver made the point that although Alberta had “three times as many photo radar units per capita” compared to BC, the province’s roadways were not “meaningfully safer.”.Photo radar generated $203 million in revenue in the 2019-2020 fiscal year..“Cities and towns have been using photo radar as another way to get in the wallets of taxpayers,” Kevin Lacey, Alberta director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation told the Western Standard, adding “forcing municipal governments to justify where photo radar is used is a great first step.”.“Photo radar is a tax grab that does nothing to promote public safety,” said Lacey suggesting the province do away with photo radar for good..“Laws should be enforced by law enforcement officers, not computers. Today’s announcement putting more controls around the use of photo radar is an admission that cities and towns have abused its use.”.The freeze has now been extended until December 1, 2022, however, municipalities are still permitted to use conventional speed enforcement including manned radar and patrolling roadways within their boundaries..Melanie Risdon is a reporter for the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
Some details about the province’s ongoing review of photo radar were released Wednesday to ensure “photo radar technology is used primarily for traffic safety, not for revenue.”.The province changes to the program coming into effect in April 2022. Those changes include:.restrictions on photo radar use in transition zones and on residential roads with less than 50 km/h speed limitsrestrictions do not apply to school, playground or construction zoneseliminating double ticketing within five minutesmandating all photo radar enforcement vehicles be clearly visiblerequiring rationale and data for sites to justify the use of photo radar.“We are taking action to tighten up the rules around photo radar,” said Minister of Transport Rajan Sawhney. “.“These changes respond to public concerns requesting the elimination of ‘fishing holes’ or speed traps while maintaining high levels of safety standards..“Municipalities will be required to collect and provide data to support current and future site selection for photo radar. This is all about enhancing safety on our roads.”.Municipalities have been given one year to enact the changes with the help and guidance of Alberta Transportation and the Alberta Justice and Solicitor General..“Photo radar should only be used for traffic safety – not as a cash cow to squeeze extra money from Albertans,” said Kaycee Madu, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General..“Our government has worked with police services and municipalities to implement changes that will ensure photo radar technology is used only to ensure our roads remain safe.”.AMA Vice President of Advocacy and Operations, Jeff Kasbrick, said AMA “supports the government’s new policy direction, as it will ensure photo radar’s use is transparent, informed by data and strictly about improving traffic safety, not generating revenue.”.In February of 2019, the province shared findings from an independent third-party review of photo radar operations in Alberta and found there was a “marginal contribution to traffic safety” and took steps to eliminate the use of the devices in certain circumstances..According to a government press release, the review showed the current photo radar guidelines were not contributing to better traffic safety and needed to be “directly tied to safety” rather than revenue generation..Then, in November 2019, the province put a temporary freeze on “new and expanded photo radar” use until December 1, 2021..The freeze banned municipalities from installing new photo radar equipment, upgrading existing photo radar devices and adding new photo radar locations..“Our goal is to ensure photo radar is used for safety, not to generate backdoor tax revenue,” said then Minister of Transportation, Ric McIver..“Albertans are skeptical about the impact photo radar has on safety and we do not have useful data to analyze so we can make a decision.”.McIver made the point that although Alberta had “three times as many photo radar units per capita” compared to BC, the province’s roadways were not “meaningfully safer.”.Photo radar generated $203 million in revenue in the 2019-2020 fiscal year..“Cities and towns have been using photo radar as another way to get in the wallets of taxpayers,” Kevin Lacey, Alberta director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation told the Western Standard, adding “forcing municipal governments to justify where photo radar is used is a great first step.”.“Photo radar is a tax grab that does nothing to promote public safety,” said Lacey suggesting the province do away with photo radar for good..“Laws should be enforced by law enforcement officers, not computers. Today’s announcement putting more controls around the use of photo radar is an admission that cities and towns have abused its use.”.The freeze has now been extended until December 1, 2022, however, municipalities are still permitted to use conventional speed enforcement including manned radar and patrolling roadways within their boundaries..Melanie Risdon is a reporter for the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
