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Councillor wants brakes on photo radar
A Strathcona County councillor wants to scrap photo radar.
Updated: Tue Sep. 06 2011 18:56:09

A Strathcona County councillor is suggesting that photo radar be phased out.
"We're making about $1.4 million dollars a year in revenue from photo radar side so that would go away but if we're doing it for revenue we're doing enforcement for the wrong reasons," said Brian Botterrill.

Botterill suggests safety is the real reason for enforcement, noting that a police officer can help improve driver education more than photo radar.
"From the safety perspective we can educate drivers a lot better with an officer than we can with photo radar.
Last year the county's photo radar contract cost more than $890,000. Botterill estimates hiring five more traffic enforcement officers could cost about $590,000.
"The five officers can cover quite a bit of territory, it increases our overall policing presence and it allows us to enforce a whole lot more than just the speed violations."

Botterill also notes that the dash-board camera can't catch someone driving a stolen vehicle, driving without insurance or a driver who is impaired.
Botterill has been studying traffic safety. He cites research showing 85 per cent of motorists drive a safe speed for the road, and for those who don't getting the demerits along with a ticket from an officer can go along way in changing driving habits.
Botterill's motion will be presented at Strathcona County council's meeting next Tuesday.

With files from Susan Amerongen