New Rules for Municipalities using Photo Radar

The Alberta Government is enhancing accountability and transparency for the use of Photo Radar technology.

Alberta's Minster of Transportation Rajan Sawhney said that the changes are coming after the government heard from the public on supposed 'fishing holes', "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."

The changes will come into effect in April of 2022. Changes include: restrictions on photo radar use in transition zones and on residential roads with less than 50 km/h speed limits, eliminating double ticketing within five minutes, mandating all photo radar enforcement vehicles be clearly visible, and requiring rationale and data for sites to justify the use of photo radar.

Kaycee Madu, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General said the new rules will ensure that photo radar is being used for traffic safety and not as a cash cow, "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.”

Municipalities who currently use photo radar will until the end of 2022 to enact the new changes.

The president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta and Reeve of Ponoka County Paul MacLachlin said in a press release that the organization supports the efforts to enhance traffic safety, "As rural municipalities manage significant road networks, the need for sound data to support optimal site location and use of automated traffic enforcement is essential. The Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) supports efforts to enhance traffic safety on Alberta’s roadways to protect Albertans.”

Throughout the province of Alberta, Photo Radar generated over $203-million in the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Currently 26 municipalities, including Calgary, use photo radar.