Latest news with #photoRadar
CBC
6 days ago
- CBC
How EPS is managing traffic safety after the province cut photo radar
It's been a couple of months since the provincial government barred photo radar from most roadways around Alberta. Police agencies have said they believe it will make streets less safe. Devin Laforce is interim Edmonton police chief.
CTV News
30-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Drivers with obstructed plates dodging traffic tickets
Drivers' damaged or hidden licence plates are costing the City of Ottawa millions in photo radar ticket revenue. CTV's Tyler Fleming reports.
CTV News
30-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Thousands of ‘obstructed' licence plates captured by Ottawa's red light, photo radar cameras
Thousands of Ottawa motorists have escaped potential tickets for photo radar and red-light camera infractions due to hidden, damaged and dirty licence plates, costing the City of Ottawa millions of dollars in lost fine revenue. Tickets for red light and photo radar camera infractions are issued to the registered plate owner of the vehicle after an officer views the evidence. Statistics provided to CTV News Ottawa show 15,480 vehicles with damaged, obstructed or missing licence plates were captured by Ottawa's automated speed enforcement cameras in the first three months of this year. A total of 71,238 speeders caught by the photo radar cameras in 2024 were rejected due to unreadable plates, while 52,851 vehicles captured by the cameras in 2023 had damaged, obstructed or missing plates. 'The total number of these instances represent a small number of cases overall,' Roger Chapman, Director of Bylaw and Regulatory Services, said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa. 'For example, the number of incidents captured by automated speed enforcement cameras involving vehicles with damaged or obstructed plates or missing plates represents about 13 per cent of the total incidents captured per year.' A total of 1,502 vehicles caught running red lights by Ottawa's red-light cameras between January and April had damaged, obstructed or missing licence plates. In 2023 and 2024, a total of 8,006 vehicles caught by Ottawa's red-light cameras had obstructed licence plates. 'It is important to note that incidents captured by a camera are not automatically tickets,' Chapman said. 'The evidence must first be substantiated by an officer, following which a Notice of Offence is issued.' A report for the finance and corporate services committee meeting on June 3 says there was a $1.5 million deficit in the Traffic Service department through the first three months of the year 'primarily due' to lower-than anticipated revenues from photo radar cameras. Staff said inclement weather and changes in driver behaviour resulted in lower revenue from photo radar tickets, but covered or damaged licence plates resulted in potentially 15,480 speeding tickets not issued in the January to March period. Under Section 13 of the Highway Traffic Act, drivers are required to ensure their licence plates are unobstructed, properly mounted, and clearly visible to officers and enforcement technology. The fine for an obscured licence plate is $110. The Ottawa Police Service said in February that it regularly conducts enforcement targeting improper or obstructed licence plates, but notes some drivers deliberately obscure or alter their plate to avoid photo radar or red-light cameras, 'making enforcement more complex.' In a report for the Ottawa Police Services Board meeting on Feb. 24, Chief Eric Stubbs said another challenge is resource allocation, noting officers must balance enforcement of plate visibility with other traffic enforcement priorities, like speeding and aggressive driving. 'While significant progress has been made, the high number of unreadable plates remains a concern, particularly in relation to the effectiveness of ASE cameras and broader road safety objectives,' Stubbs said in the report for the February board meeting. 'OPS will continue to support the City of Ottawa's initiatives by enforcing license plate regulations and exploring opportunities for enhanced collaboration in addressing this issue.'
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Speed cameras bring in $1.2M in Barrie as city considers permanent program
According to a new report, the city brought in more than $535,000 dollars since introducing the automated speed enforcement program in December 2023. If you've received a ticket in the mail lately, you're not alone. Barrie's two photo radar cameras have generated more than $1.2 million in fines since the City launched its automated speed enforcement (ASE) program. According to a new report heading to council this week, over $535,000 of that total has been collected since the cameras were activated in December 2023. The City says the revenue is earmarked for traffic safety improvements, with city staff recommending some of it be used to fund two additional speed cameras and a raised intersection at Madelaine Drive and Country Lane in the south end. City councillors are scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to make the program permanent. It's currently a pilot project. While some drivers have taken to social media to complain about the tickets, city officials say the program is doing what it's supposed to do: slow people down. 'There's a very simple way to avoid getting a ticket – don't speed,' the City states matter-of-factly on its website. 'Please slow down and help keep our communities safe.' The cameras operate in designated community safety zones and are currently stationed on Dean Avenue near La Source Elementary School and on Marsellus Drive near St. Bernadette Elementary School. How it works The system captures the licence plates of vehicles exceeding the speed limit and issues fines by mail. While the ticket doesn't add demerit points or show up on your driving record, it can be costly—especially in school zones where fines are doubled. To better manage the ticketing process, the City recently moved to an Administrative Penalty System, allowing drivers to dispute their penalty or ask for more time to pay through a screening process, replacing the older Provincial Offences Court model. City staff say any remaining revenue after the new cameras and intersection upgrade would go toward other community safety initiatives, though no specific projects have been announced yet. The current cameras will remain in place until late June, when they are relocated to another community safety zone. Signs are posted to alert drivers of the upcoming photo radar, plus when the cameras are active, with special signage replacing flashing school zone lights during camera operation. Related Articles Barrie council exploring red light cameras to curb dangerous drivingThings to know about Barrie's photo radar program
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Fewer photo radar tickets result in $1 million shortfall in Ottawa's budget revenue
A new photo radar camera has been installed on King Edward Avenue at Bruyere Street. The camera issued 7,500 speeding tickets in its first month of operation. (CTV News Ottawa) Drivers slowing down around Ottawa's photo radar cameras resulted in less revenue flowing into the City of Ottawa's coffers through the first three months of the year. The quarterly financial report for the finance and corporate services committee says a $1.5 million deficit in the Traffic Services department through the first three months of the year is 'primarily due' to the automated speed enforcement program. 'Revenues for the period were lower-than-anticipated as a result of inclement weather and changes in driver behaviour,' staff said. 'Any surplus or deficit in the automated speed enforcement program at year-end will be offset in the Road Safety Reserve.' A total of 81,090 speeding tickets were issued through the automated speed enforcement camera program in the first three months of 2025, down from 85,911 tickets in the January-March period in 2024. New statistics from the City of Ottawa show 19,582 tickets were issued through the automated speed enforcement camera program in February. It was the fewest number of speeders caught by photo radar cameras in a month since November 2023, when 19,445 speeding tickets were issued. As of the end of March, 60 photo radar cameras were in operation in community safety zones, school zones and high-speed areas across Ottawa. There are plans to install 24 new photo radar cameras on roads across the city in 2025. Revenue collected through the automated speed enforcement camera program supports Ottawa's Road Safety Action Plan and is reinvested into road safety initiatives for all road users.
