Some local effect to photo radar freeze

By GILLIAN SLADE on November 28, 2019.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade

The provincial government temporarily restricting photo radar has some implications regarding sites in Medicine Hat.

Transport Minister Ric McIver said effective this Sunday it is halting new photo radar devices and new locations.

“The temporary freeze on photo radar does not allow new locations except on a case-by-case basis with approval from Justice and Solicitor General,” said Brooklyn Elhard, press secretary for the ministry of transportation, in an email on Wednesday. “Mobile photo radar devices can continue to be relocated as needed between approved locations that municipalities already use.”

Medicine Hat Police Service has an up-to-date list of approved photo radar sites, a spokesperson stated.

The list does not imply that all of these locations are constantly covered by photo radar but they can be from time to time.

“All sites are selected pursuant to the guidelines set out by the Province of Alberta.”

Photo radar sites are selected based on one or more of the following criteria: high collision locations, school and playground zones, construction zones, citizen concerns and areas or intersections where conventional enforcement is unsafe or ineffective, or there is a documented history of speeding.

Local photo radar is a combination of an automatic system which triggers a photo taken of a vehicle determined to be going an excessive speed. There are also “operators” enforcing speed limits.

McIver said photo radar guidelines need to be refined regarding site selection, data collection and system upgrades, to ensure photo radar is being used for safety rather than revenue. The government will be working with the 27 municipalities that use photo radar to enhance data collection and standardize reporting to improve site selection criteria and focus on traffic safety. The review is expected to be handled by government and take about two years.

Police Chief Andy McGrogan told the News, after McIver’s announcement on Tuesday, that the city will have to put its plans on hold regarding hand-held laser photo radar devices. The purchase of laser devices was being considered, at $20,000 per unit, for areas where it is difficult to position photo radar vans.

Currently only 27 of about 350 municipalities in Alberta have photo radar. They generated $220 million in revenue in 2016/17, said McIver. According to a review of photo radar in 2018, Alberta’s photo radar device per-capita ratio is three times higher than other provinces.

Revenue from tickets issued is distributed provincially and municipally. The provincial government receives 41.6 per cent while 58.3 per cent goes to the city.

https://www.mhps.ca/uploads/files/MASTER_SITE_LOCATIONS_.pdf

15
-14