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Changes to photo radar usage
Overview
Automated Traffic Enforcement (ATE) technology, commonly known as photo radar, is intended to be used to make our roads safer. Photo radar includes mobile devices and fixed, intersection safety devices.
Changes to photo radar usage
Alberta’s government is protecting drivers from photo radar ‘fishing holes’ – areas where photo radar is focused on revenue generation rather than traffic safety.
Over the past year, the Government of Alberta conducted a comprehensive review of ATE to ensure its primary focus is on improving road safety rather than generating revenue. As part of the process, government engaged municipalities and law enforcement stakeholders to gather input to inform policy changes.
On December 1, 2024, the following changes to photo radar will come into effect:
- photo radar will be prohibited on all provincial highways (numbered highways, Anthony Henday Drive, Stoney Trail, and connectors)
- photo radar speed enforcement will be restricted to school zones, playground zones, and construction zones, and
- Intersection Safety Devices (ISDs) will be restricted to red-light enforcement only
A transition period between December 1, 2024, and April 1, 2025 will allow the province to work with municipalities to confirm compliance with the 3 policy parameters and remove inactive ATE sites. Municipalities will be able to request the province approve additional ATE locations on an exceptional basis once the transition period is complete.
Police services can continue using conventional enforcement and existing photo radar equipment and locations to ensure safety.
Municipalities using photo radar
The 24 municipalities using photo radar must post specific information about how they enforce their photo radar programs.
The following municipalities have information available about their photo radar programs:
Photo radar guidelines
The Automated Traffic Enforcement Guideline governs how municipalities and law enforcement agencies employ photo radar in Alberta.
The guideline is based on 4 guiding principles:
- Transportation safety, not revenue generation, must be the objective of Automated
Traffic Enforcement (ATE) programs in the province. - Police services, in collaboration with municipalities, are responsible to ensure ATE
programs are used to improve traffic safety outcomes. - Ongoing evaluation of ATE programs will ensure they improve traffic safety outcomes.
- Public transparency is paramount for the success of photo radar programs.