Calgary police see significant drop in speeding tickets after photo radar ban
The data shows between January and the end of April, the service issued 25,761 fewer tickets than during the same time period last year, when 98,523 speeding tickets were issued.
In April alone, when the photo radar restrictions took effect, the figures show 12,380 fewer tickets were issued when compared with last year; 30,604 speeding tickets were issued in April 2024.
'I do feel it's kind of a neglectful way of dealing with this in regards to taking that area away from us,' said Staff Sgt. Andy Woodward with the Calgary police traffic unit.
A significant portion of the drop in tickets in the first quarter of 2025 is due to Calgary police phasing out speed on green cameras earlier than the April 1 deadline. 29,573 speed on green camera tickets were issued between January and April 2024.
Story continues below advertisement
According to police, the change was made when the province announced in December it was restricting intersection safety devices to red-light cameras only, allowing a transition period.
The provincial rules do still allow photo radar to be used in construction zones, as well as school and playground zones.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Calgary police issued 5,928 photo radar tickets in those areas after the rules took effect in April, 781 fewer tickets than in April of last year.
There were 10,408 speeding tickets issued by officers in April, a decline of 595 tickets compared with last year, and Woodward said officers are being asked to pick up enforcement.
'Each district is now responsible for looking at areas of serious fatalities or even just collisions where officers should be going out there and doing enforcement,' Woodward said.
In February, CPS said the decision from the provincial government to claw back the use of photo radar, which in turn would have an impact on police revenue, would create a $28-million budget shortfall in 2025 'and beyond.'
In March, city council voted in favour of using reserve funds to cover that gap this year.
When asked about the reduction in enforcement through tickets, Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek said she is concerned about the impact to traffic safety on city streets.
Story continues below advertisement
'Just last week, in the span of a day, we had some serious collisions and we had a death, so I will reiterate automated traffic enforcement was always meant to save lives,' Gondek told Global News.
'The provincial government has now put us in a position where Calgarians are unsafe, especially on high-speed roadways.'
In response, Alberta transportation minister Devin Dreeshen said the province's goal was never to hand out as many tickets as possible, but to improve road safety.
In a statement, Dreeshen said the new rules prioritize enforcement in high-risk zones like schools, playgrounds, and construction areas.
He noted municipalities still have the option to apply to use photo radar in locations outside the new rules, but only if they can prove that traffic-calming measures are ineffective and the location poses a high collision risk.
'Albertans support safe roads, not hidden cameras on commuter routes. We listened, and now we're seeing a system that's more transparent, targeted, and accountable,' he said in a statement.
According to Woodward, 35 per cent of the fatal collisions in Calgary last year were due to speed.
He said red light cameras are still in effect, and photo radar will be in nine construction zones and in some of Calgary's more than 300 playground zones.
Story continues below advertisement
But Woodward said the police service is concerned heading into the summer months, and is urging people to be mindful of their speed.
'I'm concerned,' he said. 'The road conditions will be relatively good and that does give people the ability where they feel they can speed.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
12 minutes ago
- Global News
Child attacked by mountain lion that wandered into California neighbourhood
An 11-year-old girl is recovering in hospital after being attacked by a mountain lion in California over the weekend. According to NBC Los Angeles, the child was bitten on Sunday at about 5:40 p.m. outside a home in the Pacific Coast Highway and Encinal Canyon Road area of Malibu. Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies told the outlet that the girl was bitten on the arm and transported to a hospital in Thousand Oaks with non-life-threatening injuries. Wildlife experts later put down the mountain lion they believed was responsible for the attack, it added. The Mountain Lion Foundation estimates that about 4,500 mountain lions inhabit vast ranges of landscape across California, and about 40 per cent of the state is considered suitable habitat for the species, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife says. Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen A mountain lion sitting relaxed in Torres Del Paine, Patagonia, Chile. Getty Images Mountain lions are a solitary and elusive species that tend to avoid human contact and are also referred to as cougars, panthers and pumas. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The department receives hundreds of mountain lion sighting reports every year, but few result in the animals posing an imminent threat to public safety, it told NBC Los Angeles. Mountain lion attacks on humans are also rare. Since 1890, there have been six known fatal human attacks by mountain lions in California. Its website says the state's most recent fatal mountain lion attack was in March 2024, when a 21-year-old man was killed in a remote part of El Dorado County. Since 1986, there have been 23 non-fatal attacks. Mountain lions eat mostly large animals, such as deer, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, wild pigs, feral horses and burros, the wildlife department says, and will adapt their hunting behaviour in response to a changing environment, prey availability and competition for food. Story continues below advertisement They may also hunt other animals, including poultry, small livestock or pets. Last Thursday evening, a biker in the Alpine Capone area along Brohm Ridge, near Garibaldi Provincial Park in British Columbia, suffered minor injuries after being followed by a mountain lion. Officials said the animal pursued the man and 'made contact,' then followed him for another 20 minutes. The man walked backward holding his bike, and eventually was able to get the big cat to disengage by throwing rocks at it. Last year, a five-year-old boy survived a mountain lion attack in Malibu Creek State Park after he was targeted by the predator during a family picnic. According to the Los Angeles news station KTLA, he was playing with several other children close to the family's picnic site, where at least six adults were supervising, when a mountain lion picked up the child by his head and began to run away. Story continues below advertisement Witnesses said the child's father chased the fleeing mountain lion and fought it until it dropped the boy from its mouth. The boy was airlifted to hospital, where he was treated for injuries, including to his eyes. — with files from Global News' Simon Little
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
‘This vehicle stands out': New appeal in deadly targeted Surrey shooting
Do you recognize this distinctive red car? If you do, homicide investigators want to hear from you. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) says the red Dodge Charger was used in the targeted killing of 29-year-old Jaskaran Singh Minhas in Surrey, B.C., this spring. Minhas was found with fatal gunshot wounds in the driver's seat of his vehicle on 120 Street near 79 Avenue just before 5:30 p.m. on March 3. In an update on Monday, IHIT said the vehicle was subsequently dumped and torched in Delta. But police believe the vehicle was also used in the planning phase of the attack, and said it was spotted in an area of Abbotsford near the U.S. border and in the Fleetwood neighbourhood of Surrey leading up to the shooting. Story continues below advertisement 'This vehicle stands out and we urge anyone that has any information on the vehicle and/or the occupants to come forward,' Cpl. IHIT Cpl. Sukhi Dhesi said in a media release. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'This is a tragic event for Mr. (Minhas's) family, and they are asking anyone with information about this homicide to come forward and assist in getting answers about the loss of their son.' Minhas's family also released a statement on Monday, urging anyone with information to come forward. 'We are heartbroken parents desperately seeking answers about what happened to our son, Jaskaran. He was tragically killed in a gang-related incident, and since that day, our lives have been turned upside down as we cope with this unimaginable loss,' the family said. 'We are still searching for answers. If you were present, heard anything, or saw something, please come forward. You may hold the key to helping us understand why this happened to our son. Even if he is not coming back, all we want is the truth and closure. As parents, we need to know why this happened and who is responsible. No one should lose their child like we have.' Story continues below advertisement Investigators have previously said that Minhas was known to police and was believed to have had connections to organized crime. IHIT said it has identified several 'persons of interest' in the killing, and that investigators believe multiple people were involved in the hit's planning and execution. Anyone with information is asked to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
Winnipeg police make drug, gun seizure after driver flees traffic stop Saturday
Two men are facing a lengthy list of charges after fleeing an early morning traffic stop Saturday in the West End, Winnipeg police say. Officers were patrolling near Agnes Street and St. Matthews Avenue just before 2:15 a.m. when they saw a 2011 Nissan Rogue idling at a stop sign. The same Nissan later failed to stop at a red light at Maryland Street and Portage Avenue, police said, and when they attempted a traffic stop, it took off at high speed. With the help of the Air1 helicopter, police tracked the car to a home on Alexander Avenue. Two men got out and ran away, but were arrested nearby. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy A search of the Nissan turned up 1.9 grams of crack, 2.9 grams of cocaine and a loaded .45-calibre handgun with a serial number that had been removed. Police also found small quantities of crack, cocaine and three cellular phones that had been dropped near the site of the arrest. Police also seized $895 in cash from the driver. Story continues below advertisement A 20-year-old man now faces more than half a dozen charges, including possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possessing the proceeds of property obtained by crime, fleeing while pursued by a peace officer and four firearms charges. The other man, 21, has been charged with a similar list of offences — six in total.
