Ending The Photo Radar "Trap"

The envelope comes with the logo on it and you know; you got caught. As you roll your eyes and curse you tear open the envelope guessing what the dollar amount on the inside is. You look at the photo hoping somehow that’s not your car or licence plate. You stare at the top of the back of a head hoping it’s not you so you can blame someone else. Once you’ve confirmed it was indeed you that was speeding your blood boils as you retrace your day wondering why you were in such a hurry to speed. Then you start to figure a way out of the ticket. A story maybe or a scientific reason why you shouldn’t have to pay. The problem is, even with a valid reason or a legitimate error, which we have seen exist, the odds of overturning that ticket are nearly impossibly small. Even if there is a mistake, you are going to have to go to the magistrate, set a court date, show up to argue it and hope you have a strong enough case to reduce or eliminate your fine. Those of us who have had the experience know how maddening it can be, and for those of you that haven’t experienced this, now you know what it’s like.

A question I have been asked by email, when door knocking or in casual conversation nearly every time is a version of “What are your thoughts on photo radar?” It’s a topic in this city that strikes a nerve on a number of levels. The natural description for mobile photo radar units are radar “traps,” implying that they are set up for the sole reason of tricking motorists into speeding then fining them for doing so. We’ve all heard they are a “cash grab” and whether you agree with the idea of photo radar or not, the current system isn’t in the best interest of safety of our roadways and pedestrians. I am not against photo radar. I believe that enforcement of traffic laws is important to provide safety to the people of St Boniface and Winnipeg. What I do have issue with is how the photo radar system is run with that "trap" system in place. With a series of changes to the photo radar system, we can ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians like.

First of all, I would recommend that all mobile photo radar stations be set up 500 metres after a clearly posted speed limit sign. This provides motorists the opportunity to correct their speed should they legitimately not be aware of the speed limit in the area. It would also give people adequate time to adjust for school zones providing safer roads for motorists and children. Additionally, I would lobby for better signage at construction zones notifying drivers when workers are present. Too often I have seen a photo radar unit in a "construction zone" with no workers present. This is the definition of a trap in my mind designed as a cash grab from motorists. By placing a large, visible WORKERS PRESENT sign prior to the start of a work day on a construction site with a clear speed limit sign, motorists would be given ample opportunity to slow down and provided safety for the workers on site. When there are no workers present, the sign would be removed or covered with normal speed limits in effect, or well labelled reduced limits should there be pylons or closed lanes. Again, clear speed limits and rules must be posted before tickets can be fairly issued for motorists not obeying the rules. Finally, all mobile radar units must be regularly calibrated, and potential mobile radar locations should be tested by having a moderated vehicle pass through the trap at different speeds to ensure the unit is working properly and there are no issues with regard to the angle of approach or any other factors that could reduce the accuracy of the equipment. These results would then be posted and tracked on a public website so if a motorist receives a ticket, they can access the information to make sure the calibration was done correctly. By eliminating the variables that exist and clearly posting the speed limit clearly before the trap, the responsibility is then placed solely on the driver to ensure they are obeying speed limits.

Finally, I would reduce all school zones to 30 km/h regardless of where they are located. Recently, a number of school zones were reduced to 30 km/h in an effort to increase safety for children in the area. The problem is, these were only placed in school zones that are in residential areas. There are even areas that some might argue should be considered residential that weren’t changed. This school zone speed limit needs to be universal. I actually find it ridiculous that school zones that border major routes with high speeds and traffic don’t have reduced speed limits. These are the most unsafe areas for children yet aren’t treated as such. To prove a point to myself, I drove through such an area recently twice. The first time I went through the area at the posted 60 km/h speed limit. The second time I reduced my speed to 30 km/h. The result was an added EIGHT SECONDS on my commute with the slower, safer speed. If drivers cannot make time for an additional eight seconds on their commute in order to protect the safety of children, they need to re-evaluate their priorities.

The key to photo radar policy is balancing fairness with safety. By eliminating any grey area in photo radar policies and removing the “trap” aspect, we can ensure the safety of motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and children playing in our neighbourhoods.