Photo radar and red-light cameras

Photo radar and red-light cameras first appeared in Quebec on May 19, 2009. A total of 15 sites are involved in this 18-month pilot project, the aim of which is to improve road safety in some of Quebec’s highest-risk areas. Motorists have a grace period of three months, but violations committed after this period will be real. Here’s an overview. 

The sites were chosen jointly by the Ministère des Transports and the Ministère de la Sécurité publique, based on the high incidence and seriousness of accidents and how hard it is to maintain police control there.

Highlights:

• From May 19 to August 18, 2009, drivers who commit infractions will receive only a warning letter;
• For the following 18 months, starting August 19, 2009, offenders will receive within 30 days a statement of offence, a driver ID form and the photograph, showing the place, date and time it was taken, the speed recorded or the traffic light jumped. The vehicle and licence plate will be visible, but not its occupants;
• Infractions recorded on photo radar and red-light cameras will not be accompanied by demerit points;
• Fines will be the same as when a police officer issues a ticket;
• If the vehicle owner is not the offending driver, there will be a way to transfer the ticket to the actual driver;
• There will also be fines for vandalizing the devices and concealing licence plates;
• Warning signs will be posted before the locations of photo radar and red-light cameras to notify drivers of the devices ahead, so that they will not be perceived as traps;
• All fines collected during the pilot project will go to the Road Safety Fund, which funds programs and measures for improving road safety or helping road accident victims;
• When the pilot project ends, a report will be submitted to the National Assembly and studied by a legislature committee.

For more information, visit the Ministère des Transports du Québec website. (in French only)

In 2007, CAA-Quebec surveyed its members on the use of these devices:  

• Do you agree that the Government of Quebec should introduce photo radar in areas where speed is a problem? 
• Agree: 71% 
• Disagree: 28% 
• Undecided: 1% 

• Do you agree that the Government of Quebec should introduce photo radar at the sides of roads where police surveillance is too dangerous? 
• Agree: 75% 
• Disagree: 24% 
• Undecided: 1% 

• Do you agree that the Government of Quebec should install red-light cameras at intersections considered to be dangerous? 
• Agree: 82% 
• Disagree: 15% 
• Undecided: 3% 

In May 2009, CAA-Quebec consulted its members again to obtain their views on these road safety matters. 

Preamble  

In a 21-month pilot project starting May 19, 2009, photo radar and red-light surveillance equipment will be installed at 15 locations with road safety issues— 

in Montréal, Montérégie and Chaudière-Appalaches—here traditional surveillance by a police officer cannot be carried out safely. 

• How much do you agree with installing photo radar for this pilot project? 
• Agree: 79% 
• Disagree: 19% 
• Undecided: 2% 

• How much do you agree with installing red-light surveillance equipment for this pilot project? 
• Agree: 83% 
• Disagree: 15% 
• Undecided: 2% 

CAA-Quebec has been conditionally in favour of photo radar and red-light cameras since 2000, when the discussion paper La sécurité routière au Québec : un défi collectif (Road safety in Quebec: a community challenge) was published. CAA-Quebec reiterated its conditions when it submitted a brief to public hearings and consultations on Bill 42 in November 2007. 

CAA-Quebec’s conditions for the use of such devices: 

• They should be used only at locations where there is a significant safety risk; 
• They should be used at locations where it is hard, or even dangerous, for police to maintain surveillance; 
• There should be clear signs warning drivers that they are about to enter areas under technological surveillance, otherwise people will perceive them as “cash cows”; 
• There has to be transparency in the management and use of fines generated by technology: the proceeds should be used exclusively for improving road safety; and 
• Administrative follow-up with offenders needs to be fast and efficient.  

CAA-Quebec also said at the time that there should be strategic police presence in areas immediately after locations under technological surveillance, to stop drivers who revert to their bad habits.