Photo Radar More Than Just a Cash Cow

Since its inception in the early 1990’s, few technologies have been as controversial as photo radar cameras. Those who believe in photo radar cite safety as a powerful reason for using the cameras. Those who don’t believe in photo radar dismiss it as a government cash cow that gives the wealthy license to speed. Overall, photo radar has an ugly reputation. Drivers often fight photo radar tickets, saying the whole concept is a violation of constitutional rights because drivers who receive photo radar tickets are presumed guilty and must prove their innocence. Some people say photo radar tickets are unfair because they automatically are sent to the registered owner of the vehicle no matter who is driving the vehicle. If you don’t want to be responsible for someone else’s photo radar ticket don’t let them drive your car! Only loan out your vehicle to people you trust. If someone asks to borrow your car, make an agreement beforehand with that person that states that if said person gets a ticket while driving your car they will agree to pay the fine in whole. If you’re really paranoid or have a tendency to lend out your car to sketchy “friends of friends” then develop a written contract that states who is responsible for what when it comes to the vehicle in question.

While it’s easy to dismiss photo radar as a money grab, it’s hard to ignore its benefits. Generally, money from photo radar tickets goes back into the community. In Edmonton, 15 per cent of the total fine goes to Victim Services, 16.67 per cent goes to the provincial government and the rest goes to the municipality. In Beaumont, where a photo radar program was introduced only a year ago, the money from photo radar tickets will pay for the continuation of the program. The money collected from photo radar tickets in Leduc goes back into the community to pay for other safety measures, such as flashing lights at high-traffic cross walks. If we didn’t have photo radar, we would either not have extra safety measures in place in our community or we would be taxed extra to cover the costs. Under the photo radar system, those who potentially create unsafe driving conditions by speeding are responsible for increasing other safety measures. Not surprisingly, most of the drivers who receive photo radar tickets in Leduc are not from Leduc.

Some people receive photo radar tickets because they don’t know what the speed limit is in areas of town if they are from another municipality. Most people receive photo radar tickets because they ignore the speed limit. We’ve all done it at one time or another in our daily travels. We speed because we’re late for work, late for school, late for an appointment, or simply because we are in a hurry for no reason at all. In today’s ultra-hyper speed society, it’s impossible not to feel like you’re behind everyone else sometimes. No one wants to be at the back of the race or the last to reach their destination, even if the destination isn’t all that great. I understand why people speed. I know why I tend to speed sometimes. But lately, getting someplace two minutes faster doesn’t seem worth it. It’s not worth the risk of getting a ticket I can’t afford, it’s not worth the risk of smashing up my car in a careless accident and it’s certainly not worth the risk of injuring or killing another person. This is why I also understand photo radar. If photo radar deters even a handful of people from speeding, it makes our roads safer. Many people question how photo radar equals safer roads. Ask yourself that question again when you’re driving 140 km down Highway 2 and someone cuts in front of you. Ask yourself that question again when your child runs out into the street to get their ball.

Photo radar makes our roads safer because the slower you drive the better your reaction time. Photo radar makes our roads safer by simply reminding people that there is a legal speed limit and there are consequences for breaking it. The bottom line is photo radar is a system that only works when people break the law by speeding. Therefore, drivers who follow the speed limit don’t have anything to worry about. Drivers who do choose to speed need to be prepared to face the consequences of their illegal actions, no matter how costly it may be.