Wildrose comes at NDP on photo radar

by Morinville News Staff

The Wildrose are hoping to make photo radar an election issue in this fall’s municipal elections.

Using recent frustrations with photo radar, including the call by Edmonton’s Chief of Police to increase the speed limit on the Anthony Henday, the Wildrose called on the NDP government Thursday to produce a report on the use of photo radar for speeding by municipalities across the province to determine where it is being used fairly.

Wildrose are asking for the report to be released no later than Sept. 15 so that voters are informed before fall municipal elections.

Some municipalities across Alberta have recently made changes to the administration of their photo radar programs to end ‘honey pot’ situations where safety is not the priority, or as was the case with Drayton Valley, have abolished their photo radar programs altogether.

“All Albertans support improving safety on our roadways, but that doesn’t mean we should continue to have a system in Alberta where responsible drivers are getting unfairly trapped for some easy revenue,” Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said. “There is clearly a growing movement of Albertans who want to stop the cash grabs and instead focus on all we can do to improve safety on Alberta’s roadways. The NDP government has the responsibility to study this and release a report.”

Current provincial guidelines say the use of photo radar should be limited to high-risk, high-frequency, high-collision locations that have high-pedestrian volumes.

Currently, only four out of ten provinces have photo radar programs in place. Alberta is the only province to allow uninhibited use of photo radar in every municipality and the only province that allows mobile speed cameras outside of construction and school zones.

Wildrose Shadow Justice Minister Angela Pitt said a growing majority of Albertans believe the photo radar system has been tilted further away from its purpose to improve safety.

“Photo radar should never be used or seen as a sneaky revenue generating tool. Period,” Pitt said. “We can improve enforcement and safety on our roadways while at the same ending practices that entrap drivers in safe situations.”

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3 Comments

  1. Put a big picture of Morinville under this byline!!!! Current provincial guidelines say the use of photo radar should be limited to high-risk, high-frequency, high-collision locations that have high-pedestrian volumes. So explain how secondary highway 642 east, leaving Morinville by the sewage plant, fits ANY of the above criteria??? Or the artificial speed limit of 50 KPH on Cardiff Road where there are NO pedestrians??? Can we say CASH COW??? ABSOLUTELY!!

  2. Will:
    You are SPOT ON !!!! Cash Cow!!! and I see by Linda Lyons last report in the M N April 10, 2017 that NOTHING has changed as per the PHOTO RADAR Honey Spots!!!!

    Copy: a part of of Linda Lyons analysis
    Going OUT of Town:
    Cardiff Road Eastbound – 139 hours – 654 tickets
    100 St / near 87 Ave Southbound – 102 hours – 676 Tickets
    Pumphouse Eastbound – 147 hours – 605 tickets
    Cemetery Area Northbound – 89 hours – 477 tickets
    Coming INTO Town:
    Cardiff Road Westbound – 1 hour – 0 tickets
    100 St / near 87 Ave Northbound – 4 hours – 1 ticket
    Pumphouse Westbound – 6 hours – 1 ticket
    Cemetery Area Southbound – 3 hours – 0 tickets

    As stated by the Mayor and some councilors, changes in enforcement would happen in the name of safety, it appears that HONEY SPOTS are still the main source of CASH and the changes for safety didn’t happen… Can’t wait til the next election!!!

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