EDMONTON – Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen, wearing a “Money Cow” barbecue apron, introduced extra modifications Monday to additional cut back photograph radar enforcement.
“It is a historic day for Alberta drivers as we flip up the warmth, we hearth up the grill, and say goodbye to the photograph radar money cow,” Dreeshen, wearing a black apron with the phrases “Money Cow” crossed out, advised reporters at an Edmonton smokehouse.
It was an announcement that Alberta’s high police chief referred to as insulting and one that may put lives in danger.
Dreeshen mentioned that as of April 1 the province is ending photograph radar ticketing on all numbered provincial highways.
The province additionally plans over the approaching months to overview “money cows” – photograph radar spots that seem to prioritize money-making over security – with the aim of shutting down 70 per cent of the present 2,200 websites.
The minister mentioned far too usually photograph radar penalizes drivers with out enhancing street security, including the province doesn’t intend to supply additional money to make municipalities entire from the misplaced photograph radar income.
“The entire level of eliminating these money cow places is to guarantee that photograph radar is used as a site visitors security software and never as a income generator,” Dreeshen mentioned.
Police criticize announcement
Mark Neufeld, the top of the Calgary Police Service and president of the Alberta Affiliation of Chiefs of Police, criticized the announcement.
Neufeld singled out Dreeshen’s barbecue apron and labelled the money remarks “glib and maybe inappropriate.”
“Having a provincial cupboard minister converse on this method is unprofessional and it has the potential to undermine the general public’s belief and confidence of their police companies,” Neufeld advised a information convention in Calgary later Monday.
“Whereas some individuals could have thought that was humorous, we’d encourage the minister to contemplate these residents who’ve been injured or killed on Alberta roadways and their family members.”
Neufeld mentioned photograph radar is working. He mentioned Calgary had 24 site visitors deaths in 2023 and 25 to this point this 12 months. He mentioned the numbers have dropped significantly with the usage of photograph radar prior to now.
“If we take that away, these remedies out of these places, I feel the inescapable conclusion is we get extra collisions, and statistically some will likely be critical damage and a few will likely be deadly,” he mentioned.
Neufeld mentioned he has made eight requests for a gathering with the minister since July and nothing has occurred.
“(The controversy) has been framed up as if (photograph radar) is simply achieved to generate cash,” he mentioned. “It makes it sound as if we’re on the market placing these items wherever to generate profits after which utilizing the cash for the Christmas celebration.”
Radar nonetheless enable at school zones, building websites
Photograph radar will proceed to be allowed at school zones, playground zones and building websites, however past these areas, native governments must submit their case and present proof of upper collision charges.
At intersections geared up with cameras, operating a pink mild may nonetheless web a driver a ticket, however dashing on inexperienced is not going to — beginning within the spring.
The United Conservative Occasion authorities has been putting restrictions on photograph radar websites in levels. All photograph radar websites have been faraway from ring roads in Calgary and Edmonton final December.
Dreeshen mentioned the province, too, will see much less income from photograph radar.
In 2019, the UCP elevated the province’s share of photograph radar income to 40 per cent from 27. That fiscal 12 months, complete income generated was $203 million. By final 12 months, complete income was right down to $145 million, Dreeshen mentioned.
Among the many high 5 revenue-generating websites listed by the federal government in 2023, 4 are in Edmonton and space, every amassing between $2.1 million and virtually $6 million per 12 months.
Kara Westerlund, president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, applauded the transfer. Alberta Municipalities president Tyler Gandam mentioned his group helps native governments utilizing automated site visitors enforcement for security, however mentioned the brand new proposed approvals course of means extra pink tape.
NDP Chief Naheed Nenshi mentioned the federal government is including pink tape, and that municipalities, together with Calgary, use photograph radar funding to pay for policing.
— with information from Invoice Graveland in Calgary
Function picture by iStock.com/vadimgouida
