UPDATE Friday, 8:45 a.m. – Civic reps at the UBCM meeting voted down a proposal by a Victoria councillor to reduce the default speed limit in B.C. to 40 km/h from 50 km/h.
Could photo radar be coming back to B.C.?
Municipal leaders voted to bring back the controversial speed enforcement tool, but only in certain areas.
It would only be returning to school zones in an effort to cut down on the number of recent accidents involving children.
On Wednesday three students were hit by a motorcycle outside Princess Margaret Secondary in Surrey. One of those students died from her injuries.
But critics say it is unlikely the motion will be approved by the government. Photo radar was taken off the roads more than 10 years ago and premier Christy Clark has said she has no plans to consider a revival.
“The NDP brought it in, it was a mistake, it was a tax grab by the government, and I will not bring it back,” said Clark.
A group known as SENSE BC started a program back in the early 2000’s that photo radar had little to do with safety, and was more about making money.
“Quite often there’s the call that it’s strictly a cash grab,” said Duncan city councillor, Tom Duncan. “I don’t think it’s a cash grab, it’s there to bring down the speed limit, you bring down the speed limit, it brings down the chance of fatalities.”
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