Alberta police are removing photo radars

The Alberta provincial government is taking the first step toward banning photo radar. Starting Dec. 1, they won't be used on ring roads in Calgary and Edmonton. It's a way for the province to demonstrate a shift in priorities toward road safety rather than revenue generation.

In 2022-2023, CA$ 171 million in fines were collected through photo enforcement. Revenue from traffic fines is split between the province and municipalities, with the province receiving 40% and municipalities 60%. Provincial Minister of Transportation Devin Dreeshen has strongly advocated for change:

"Alberta has the highest usage of photo radar in Canada, and these changes will finally eliminate the cash cow that affects so many Albertans. Photo radar must only be used to improve traffic safety, and with theses changes, municipalities will no longer be able to issue thousands of speeding tickets simply to generate revenue."

The first photo radar installations in Alberta began in 1987, and there are currently about 2,387 of them across the province. On December 1, 2019, authorities decided to halt the installation of new photo-fixing equipment in the wake of local residents' discontent. This restriction will be extended until the completion of a year-long consultation with municipalities on December 1, 2024.

There are 8 photo radars on the Calgary ring road and 22 on the Edmonton ring road. Removing the installations means that they can be moved to somewhere more useful, such as schools, playgrounds or construction sites.