The number of speeding tickets issued by the City of Edmonton to motorists driving less than five kilometres per hour over the speed limit is too sensitive for councillors to discuss in public, says a city report.
The report covers more than a dozen questions from Couns. Amarjeet Sohi, Dave Loken and Mike Oshry in regards to the photo radar traffic enforcement, ranging from its effectiveness in reducing collisions to the revenue generated from ticketing.
However, when it comes to the number of tickets issued to drivers edging over the speed limit, city staff say those details should be discussed by council in private.
“They may involve matters of legal advice and other information subject to Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act,” the report said.
Coun. Mike Oshry wants to know how many speeding tickets are issued to motorists driving less than five kilometres per hour over the speed limit. (CBC News)
But Oshry said he still wants to know the answer.
“Everybody at some point goes a kilometre or two over the speed limit,” he said. “That seems more like a cash grab –which is not what I understand the photo radar to be.”
Report shows trends in radar ticketing
The report does suggest photo radar enforcement encourages drivers to slow down, meaning fewer and less severe collisions.
The report also shows photo radar is focused on arterial roads, while most of the complaints concerning speeding comes from residential neighbourhoods, Oshry said.
He’ll raise those issues at a Transportation Committee meeting Thursday, he said.
“For me, the big over-reaching issue on photo radar is to try to figure out what’s the point of the program.”
When do you think it’s fair to be ticketed for speeding?
