Alberta’s government announced a number of measures Monday afternoon, including banning photo radar as a “revenue generator” by no longer allowing it on provincial highways.
The province announced today that beginning on April 1, 2025, photo radar will only be permitted around schools, playgrounds, and construction zones.
Intersection cameras will also be limited to red light enforcement, ending “speed-on-green” tickets.
Municipalities can apply for exceptions in high-collision areas where other safety measures aren’t feasible. The effectiveness of these exceptions is assessed through audits every two years.
Existing sites will be reviewed over the next four months, and about 70% of the current 2,200 locations are expected to be removed.
“This is great news for Alberta drivers. These changes will once and for all kill the photo radar cash cow in Alberta,” said Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors.
“Albertans can be confident that photo radar will only be used to improve traffic and roadside worker safety and not to make money.”
Monday’s announcement comes after a year-long consultation with municipalities, which have been prevented from installing new or upgraded photo radar devices or deploying existing equipment to new locations since 2019.
The freeze was instituted to allow police and municipalities to update their present photo radar systems according to guidelines announced in 2021.
Last November, photo radar was banned on Calgary and Edmonton’s ring roads, with the province saying it would work to remove “fishing hole” photo radar locations in Alberta.