Sometimes you see it, sometimes you don’t. Photo radar is that flash of light the strikes fear into drivers all over the Province. Is it a cash cow? Or, does it protect heavy-footed drivers from themselves? Many are undecided when it comes to photo radar. It’s such a contentious issue, one Lethbridge citizen was so enraged he shot one of the cameras in 2011.
It’s a model that’s unique to each city. In some municipalities, like Medicine Hat, revenue generated by photo radar goes towards the annual police budget. In others, like Lethbridge, it’s the city that gets the funds. Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman believes this is the correct way to operate.
“The Police department receives no benefit for the photo radar. Therefore, we avoid the perception that the Police Department is profiting from photo radar.”
Between photo radar and red light cameras the city of Lethbrdge raked in 3.7 million dollars in 2013. Now that may sound like a lot, but Medicine Hat a city with approximately twenty thousand less people was higher than that in 2012. Spearman says while the funds do help with spending they aren’t vital to the city’s operation.
“We don’t use it as a revenue opportunity, but it does go into general revenues and taxpayers who don’t receive a radar ticket can get a benefit.“
But does photo radar actually slow people down? Or do they just pay up and put the pedal back down. Well the numbers say people aren’t learning over the past five years in Lethbridge there’s been very little variation in the annual income generated. LRPS Staff Sergeant Dwayne Smith still firmly believes photo radar is helping protect drivers.
“There is the thought out there that it’s just a cash cow, but the reason it is out there is to enforce the laws and keep peoples driving habits in check and make it safer for everybody using the roadway.”
It will always be a hotly-debated topic, but as long as photo radar is used it appears some drivers will always contribute to the pot.
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