WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Police Service brought in $14.6 million from photo radar fines in 2014, a boost of nearly $3 million over 2013 revenue.
Photo enforcement revenues rose to their highest since the city started using the program, a Winnipeg Police Service financial report states.
The introduction of school zone speed limits in Winnipeg contributed to the increased revenues, the financial report says.
“Unfortunately, there were too many people speeding through school zones,” said Coun. Scott Gillingham, chairman of the Winnipeg police board.
“It was September 2014 when school zone enforcement started,” said Gillingham. “I don’t think the service could have anticipated what could have happened and the behaviour of drivers.”
The provincial government introduced doubled fines for construction-zone tickets in May, helping increase revenues, the report says. The fine for speeding in a construction zone is $312.25 for driving 10 kilometres per hour over the speed limit and increases at higher speeds, to more than $2,000 for someone going 75 km/h over the limit. Speed limits are often reduced in construction zones.
The police service financial report also notes that revenues from regular enforcement also jumped in 2014: officers handed out tickets worth $4.45 million in 2014, compared to $3.9 million the year before.
READ MORE: Manitoba drivers face tougher fines for speeding in construction zones
Among other things, the force saved $7.4 million in facility costs due to delays with the move into the new police headquarters, and reduced ballooning overtime costs by $282,446.
“The service seems to have got a handle on its overtime cost,” said Gillingham. “I’d like them to continue to manage that.”
One thing the police department is spending more money on is cellphones. They’re finding more members are using their cellphones instead of their desk phones, so the force plans to make a shift to get rid of some land lines.
The full 2014 fourth-quarter financial report is below.
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