More Alberta municipalities scrapping photo radar in response to provincial restrictions
CBC
The number of municipalities using photo radar and red-light cameras in Alberta has dropped by more than a third since last year, according to figures from the province.
Seventeen municipalities, including Edmonton and Calgary, still have automated traffic enforcement programs — down from 26 last year.
The provincial government announced in December it would be banning photo radar on all provincial highways and connectors, restricting its use to school, playground and construction zones and no longer allowing speed-on-green cameras at intersections.
The new rules, which the government has framed as "ending the photo radar cash cow," came into effect on April 1.
Alberta Municipalities president and Wetaskiwin Mayor Tyler Gandam said smaller local governments, including his own, have determined the cost of hiring a company to run automated enforcement now exceeds the benefits.
He said as a result, municipalities are losing revenue they once spent on traffic safety initiatives and are turning to police and peace officers to enforce speed limits instead.
"Taking away the automated traffic enforcement now puts more of a burden on our police officers and our communities," Gandam said.
Getting rid of photo radar means giving up tens of thousands of dollars in ticket revenue.
Canmore expects to lose $250,000, Edson about $464,000 and Spruce Grove $600,000.
"It was never about the revenue," said Jeff Acker, Spruce Grove's mayor.
He said Spruce Grove, a small city about 30 kilometres west of Edmonton, introduced photo radar 16 years ago aiming to reduce traffic collisions at intersections by 20 per cent. The tool worked, he said.
Now, because of the new provincial rules, Spruce Grove can no longer use photo radar at its most dangerous places.
Municipalities wanting to re-engineer intersections to reduce collisions can apply for a new traffic safety fund in September.
The provincial fund will have $1 million available in the next fiscal year, $2 million in 2026-27 and $10 million in 2027-28.
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