Why would I want to know something like that? Well...let me tell you.
Let's say this drunk driver hit 3 photo radar locations before they hit the 16 year old girl. One was a red light camera, and two were speed traps. That's three times an actual police officer could have stopped this drunk driver, arrested them, and a 16 year old girl would still be alive.
These photo radar stations are not helping us. They might slow down some traffic in certain areas and would be good in school zones, parks and other places where there are high volumes of people or children and people know exactly where the locations are. If people know where the locations of a photo booth are, they have to slow down or deal with the consequences.
If people know there is a photo radar trap they slow down as they pass it and then just speed up again, this is not a fix, its made to fine people who are not paying attention.
With the introduction of legalized marijuana now we have another threat we will have to deal with on our roads. How many people are going to killed because of it? How many times would they have been caught and a death prevented if there were actual police officers instead of photo radar booths set up?
Where does all this photo radar money go to anyway? This is right from our Government.
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Revenue generated by photo enforcement does NOT go into general revenue. Revenue from photo radar can only be spent on traffic safety programs, not on general City expenses.
Revenue covers operating costs of automated enforcement including a base allocation to Edmonton Police Service. In 2015, Edmonton Police Service received $18 million from automated enforcement.
- 15% of the total fine is given to Victims Services
- 16.67% goes to the Alberta Government
- The remaining fine balance goes to the Reserve Fund and is used to fund safety and community projects at Council’s direction
- Any late payment penalty attached to the fine goes to the province (amount of $20 or 20%, whichever is greater)
- Speed infractions follow the specified penalties as listed in the Alberta Traffic Safety act
The money from photo radar goes into the traffic safety act. What do they think "Safe" means? To put more photo radar booths up? To put out more photo radar speed traps? To put up more photo infraction cameras at controlled intersections? But definitely not more actual police officers to catch potential murderers in the form of people driving while under the influence of something.
Photo radar does have it's place in the world, but it shouldn't be used as a replacement for police services. It doesn't stop or catch someone in a seriously dangerous condition.
It's at the point where it's Photo Ridiculous
Scott Goerz
