Police expand photo radar zones

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on January 14, 2025.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Monday marked the beginning of Lethbridge Police Service monitoring an additional 42 Lethbridge playground zones with photo radar to help reduce speeding and prevent collisions.
In December 2019, the Alberta Government prohibited municipalities from adding any new photo radar locations, but that ban was lifted last month when the province announced changes to the current automated traffic enforcement program. Under the recently announced guidelines, automated traffic enforcement is restricted to school zones, playground zones and constructions zones only and in Lethbridge, all harmonized playground zones throughout the city are in effect daily from 7:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Sgt. Danny Lomness, in charge of the LPS Traffic Response Unit, told reporters Monday that LPS wants to make sure everybody knows that there are several new photo radar sites now in effect.
“There are 42 new sites, but that doesn’t mean there’s 42 new school or playground zones,” said Lomness. “What that means is there could be one school, but within that one school or playground area, there could multiple roads surrounding that immediate area and each one of those roads has to be designated as a site.”
He added that once construction season begins, police will be using photo radar on those sites as well.
“With the restrictions of locations, we had to adjust some of our times, but not adding any other resources at this time,” said Lomness.
He also said it is important for LPS to continue monitoring harmonized playground zones, because this will help them to protect school-age children.
Lomness explained that in some areas, one road can have multiple designated photo radar zones, as they have various schools or playgrounds adjacent to them, which are determined by the City.
“For example, one zone could be from the 100 block to the 200 block and the next one could be from the 400 block to the 500 block. So, you might have a little bit of a block where there isn’t, but ultimately like he said, they’re not going to be changing speed much in between there.”
He added that photo radar will be rotating among sites, but drivers might see an increase in areas where there is increased traffic to reduce the risk of collisions.
“You might see more in those areas, but that will be determined by traffic flow and instance,” said Lomness.
 LPS will continue to share photo radar locations and schedules with the public as it has done in the past.

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