Taber ends photo radar contract with City of Lethbridge

By Lethbridge Herald on January 8, 2025.

The Town of Taber confirmed Tuesday that the town no longer has photo radar as of the new year.
Town council decided last year to end its contract with the City of Lethbridge to provide photo radar services in Taber at the end of December.
“Council’s decision to end the photo radar program reflects our commitment to balancing public safety with community priorities,” says Mayor Andrew Prokop. “While the program played a role in improving driving habits, we recognize the importance of moving forward with enforcement strategies that are effective, transparent, and supported by our residents. The safety of our roads—especially in critical areas like school and playground zones—remains a top priority, and we’re confident in our Police Service’s ability to maintain and enhance traffic safety in Taber.”
Introduced to address speeding and other traffic violations in high-risk areas, photo radar played a role in promoting safer driving habits throughout the community. Over time, the program met with a noticeable improvement in driving behavior and fewer traffic violations being recorded, but there was also the public perception of photo radar becoming a “cash cow” for governments.
Over the past five years, Taber significantly reduced its reliance on fine revenue in our budgets, according to a news release from the town. As driving habits improved, fine revenue expectations dropped each year, ultimately reaching zero in the 2025 Operating Budget. For more than five years, the town has preferred to focus on proactive measures to ensure community safety, and finding revenues from more reliable sources.
“Losing ATE wasn’t a surprise to us,” says Taber Police Chief Graham Abela. “And although we believe an effective tool for speed enforcement, we will rely on traditional enforcement moving forwards. Drivers are reminded that speeding violations issued by a police officer will normally come with demerit points that will impact insurance rates and lead to possible license suspensions.
The various photo radar warning signs around the community will be removed in due course. These signs are different from the “automatic speed signs” that display a driver’s speed. Those signs will remain as a reminder for motorists to obey the posted speed limit.

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