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Automated Traffic Enforcement

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Safety is our priority. Safe streets keep Edmontonians working, moving and thriving.

The Safe Mobility Strategy 2021-2025 is now available to review at edmonton.ca/safestreets. It outlines what we have learned and where we will be going to make our streets safer and more livable for all Edmontonians.

What Are We Doing?

The City uses automated traffic enforcement in combination with other traffic safety programs to make our streets safer for everyone. Automated traffic enforcement in Edmonton includes intersection safety devices and mobile speed enforcement.

  • Mobile automated traffic enforcement locations are updated weekly and can be viewed using the City's Open Data maps
  • Automated traffic enforcement tickets issued by month are available on Open Data 
  • Mobile speed enforcement vehicles have been designed to be more visible to drivers and are parked so that they can be seen without obstruction

How Are We Doing?

Recent data comparing 2018 to 2019 data shows that people are slowing down and are participating in creating safe, livable streets that help us reach our goal of Vision Zero.

  • Total collisions at mobile speed enforcement sites and associated areas declined 16%
  • Most drivers are travelling at safe speeds in Edmonton. On average, less than 2% of vehicles travelling through mobile speed enforcement areas are receiving tickets
  • Excessive speeding violations of 21 km/h over posted speed limits dropped 25% at all mobile speed enforcement locations
  • While there was a slight increase in the number of mobile speed enforcement hours, the total number of tickets issued dropped 6% and total fines issued from mobile speed enforcement dropped by just over $1 million

Since Vision Zero was adopted by the City of Edmonton in 2015, fatalities have decreased by 56% and serious injuries have declined by 30%. Our data driven approach to addressing high collision locations, unsafe speeds and their contributing causes is working. The positive trend in the reduction of serious injuries and fatalities demonstrates we are on track to reach Vision Zero by 2032.

Pay Speeding and Red Light Tickets

Pay Online

Understanding Your Ticket

If you received a Notice of Offence for a red light or speeding violation, as the registered owner of the plate you will have options to respond.

Who Gets the Ticket

Because you are charged as the registered owner of the vehicle, and have not been charged as a driver, a guilty plea will not result in any demerit points assessed to your operator's license.

Section 160(1) of the Traffic Safety Act states:

"If a vehicle is involved in an offence referred to in Section 157 or a bylaw, the owner of that vehicle is guilty of an offence."

Tickets are mailed out, have a photo of the vehicle and contain details including the posted speed, violation speed and fine amount.

Automated Traffic Enforcement Technology

The City uses various kinds of automated traffic enforcement, in accordance with provincial guidelines. 

Intersection Cameras

Intersection Safety Cameras, known as red-light and speed-on-green cameras, are fully automated and mounted above intersections to capture violations. They are an effective tool in reducing the number of collisions. If your ticket was at an intersection, see the Intersection Safety Device Frequently Asked Questions.

Vehicle-Mounted Equipment

Mobile speed enforcement takes place between intersections, usually from a vehicle parked beside the road. The vehicle-mounted equipment has a narrow radar beam that targets specific lanes of traffic and automatically takes images of speeding vehicles recording the location, date, time, posted speed and violation speed. A trained and qualified peace officer sits with the equipment, observes violating vehicles and makes notes accordingly.  The system is tested before and after the noted offence time.

Hand-Held Technology

Peace Officers may also use laser-based, handheld devices that use LIDAR technology. If your speeding ticket is from a hand-held device, the ticket will indicate the images were taken with LIDAR technology. The images on the ticket will show a grey box on your vehicle in the black and white photo. This box is the target area of the laser so, even if another vehicle passed you at the time the photo was taken, the box indicates your vehicle was speeding. The officer operating the equipment also confirms which vehicle was targeted. The LIDAR system is tested before and after the noted offence time.

Review Your Ticket

You can review full-sized, colour images of the alleged violation. The online photos show the LIDAR target area on your vehicle as a red box.

Review Your Ticket

Pay Your Ticket

By paying the voluntary payment amount, you are pleading guilty and do not need to appear in court.

In Person
  • At any Registry Office or Provincial Court
  • Bring the ticket with you
Online

 fines.alberta.ca

Fees
  • Service fees apply
  • Where authorized, the voluntary payment option includes a victims surcharge to assist victims of crime in the Province of Alberta
  • Late payment fee of $20 or 20% of the voluntary payment amount, whichever is greater will be charged if your payment is received after your court appearance date

tickets.alberta.ca

Plead Not Guilty
By Mail

Provincial Court Traffic
1A Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 0R2

Mail your notice to the address indicated above and sign the following statement on the notice:

I wish to Plead Not Guilty to the offence I have been charged with and Will Appear at the Trial Date set for me. I understand that I will be advised of this trial date by ordinary mail which will be sent to the address on the face of this offence notice unless I indicate a different address below. I understand that should I fail to appear for my trial I may be convicted in my absence without a hearing and I will be responsible for payment of any penalty plus late payment charges that may become applicable.

A trial date will be set.

Appear Before a Justice
  • Appear before a justice at the appearance address and date indicated on the reverse side of your ticket
  • You may plead guilty or not guilty to the offence charged
  • If you plead guilty, you may ask for time to pay the fine
  • If you want to make submissions as to your penalty, a trial date may be set
  • If you plead not guilty, a trial date will be set

Automated Enforcement Locations

The automated enforcement locations are updated every Monday for the locations planned for the following calendar week. The selection of locations may vary as determined by weather, road conditions, roadway closures or construction, equipment issues or other unforeseen circumstances.

Intersection Safety Camera Locations

Automated Traffic Enforcement Zones Map - All

Automated Traffic Enforcement Zones Map - Weekly

Frequently Asked Questions

Does mobile speed enforcement reduce collisions and injuries?

Encouraging safe speed is an important aspect of traffic safety because speed is a factor in the frequency and outcome of every collision. Slowing down while driving gives you more time to react to the unexpected and helps you avoid collisions. Speed also has a direct impact on the severity of the outcome of a collision. Lower speeds lead to lower degrees of injury.

In 2014, Dr. Karim El Basyouny, the Edmonton Urban Traffic Safety Research Chair and his team from the University of Alberta conducted a study of the impact of mobile speed enforcement had on the frequency and severity of different types of motor vehicle collisions on Edmonton roadways. The study showed that there were significant reductions in all collision severities and types as described below:

  • Severe collisions (fatal and injury): reduction of 32.1%
  • Property damage only collisions: reduction of 28.7%
  • Total collisions: reduction of 27.7%
  • Speed related property damage only collisions: reduction of 27.3%
  • Total speed related collisions: reduction of 26.7% 

Evaluation of Mobile Speed Enforcement on Arterial Roads

Why is mobile speed enforcement used?

Human bodies are fragile and even a small difference in speed can mean the difference between life and death. This is especially true for people who walk, bike or ride a motorcycle.

Both mobile speed enforcement and police enforcement are important to influence driver behaviour. Using mobile speed enforcement, we can cover a larger number of locations that would be too demanding on EPS resources.

Furthermore, we use mobile speed enforcement in areas where police enforcement is unsafe. This includes having officers on the side of high-speed roads, locations where it isn't safe or practical to pull over drivers, or where it would be ineffective/inefficient to conduct staffed enforcement such as locations with high volume of speeding traffic.

What are the overall trends we see for mobile speed enforcement sites?

This data shows more people are slowing down and are participating in creating safe, livable streets that help us reach our goal of Vision Zero:

  • Total collisions at mobile speed enforcement sites and associated areas declined 16% from 2018 to 2019
  • Excessive speeding violations of 21 km/h over posted speed limits dropped 25% from 2018 to 2019 at all mobile speed enforcement locations
  • In 2019, the City issued fewer speeding tickets, including for excessive speeding 
  • While the number of mobile speed enforcement hours increased 12%, the total number of tickets issued dropped 6% and total fines issued from mobile speed enforcement dropped by just over $1 million from 2018 to 2019
  2018 2019 Change
Total Deployment Hours 47,252 52,776 12%
Total Tickets 354,602 332,303 -6%
Total Tickets 21+ km/h Over the Speed Limit 46,290 34,760 -25%
Tickets per Deployment Hour 7.5 6.3 -16%
Tickets 21+ km/h per Deployment Hour 0.98 0.66 -33%
Average Site Average Traffic Speed (km/h)* 44.39 44 -1%
Average Site Ticketed Vehicle Percentage* 2.41% 1.83% -24%
Total Collisions in mobile speed enforcement  zones 943 794 -16%
Mobile Speed Enforcement Revenue $31,067,912 $30,052,867 -3%
* Sites that do not have 2018 traffic data are not included.
How many automated enforcement tickets are issued?

This interactive map provides information for each automated enforcement location throughout Edmonton, including location and direction of cameras that are capturing photos, speed limit, road type, and comparison of crash and violation data before (2013-2015) and after (2016-2019) Vision Zero was implemented.

In 2018, 18 percent of violations issued across all 10 top enforcement sites were for travelling more than 21 km/hr over the speed limit.

Why are mobile speed enforcement vehicles clearly marked?

The City of Edmonton’s mobile speed enforcement vehicles are now more visible to drivers. The vehicles are displaying vinyl wraps or decals and flags, and their parking locations have been adjusted to ensure they are clearly visible to those being monitored.
 
Making mobile speed enforcement vehicles more visible is part of the City’s ongoing approach to being open and transparent about managing and enforcing speed.

Enforcement vehicles will follow these parking standards:

  • Park on roadways where vehicles are clearly visible to drivers
  • Park as openly as possible at all enforcement sites
  • Do not park in locations where the vehicle is not visible to traffic: behind trees, behind fences, on boulevards, any parkland, grassy areas, or any area that is not on a roadway
How are automated traffic enforcement sites selected?

All sites are selected in accordance with the Automated Traffic Enforcement Technology Guideline which are set by the Province of Alberta, in relation to high collision corridors, citizen complaints, school zones, construction zones or a history of speeding. All sites have been reviewed to ensure enforcement can be conducted in compliance with the City of Edmonton's parking standards, as outlined above.

Is the City of Edmonton in compliance with the Province's Automated Traffic Enforcement Guideline?

Yes, Edmonton's automated traffic enforcement program, overseen by the Edmonton Police Service, is in compliance with the Province of Alberta's guidelines.

On December 1, 2019, the Government of Alberta initiated a moratorium on new photo radar locations and equipment to review objectives and outcomes of automated enforcement. Administration will apply the results from the review in its automated enforcement approach.

Automated Traffic Enforcement Guideline

Why is mobile speed enforcement used on high-speed roads with no pedestrians like Whitemud Drive and Anthony Henday?

Anthony Henday Drive and Whitemud Drive are high-speed roadways which have had many fatal and serious injury collisions over the years. 28% of fatalities (excluding pedestrians and cyclists) happen on Edmonton roads with posted speeds of 80 km/h or above.

Whitemud Drive Collision History 2012-2018
Total Collisions 2009
Fatal and Serious Injury Collisions 27
Speed-Related Collisions 1403

 

Anthony Henday Drive 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Total Collisions 449 473 368 386 366 499 526
Fatal and Serious Injury Collisions 16 17 11 6 10 13 18
Speed-Related Collisions 299 340 247 282 252 344 386

 

The Province of Alberta updated their site selection criteria relating to Automated Traffic Enforcement sites. In the recent update, "high-speed or multi-lane roadways" was removed as one of the site selection criteria. Automated Traffic Enforcement is still permitted on high speed or multi-lane roadways if approved by the police service of the jurisdiction and meets one or more of the following criteria:

  • Areas or intersections where conventional enforcement is unsafe or ineffective
  • Areas or intersections with an identifiable, documented history of collisions
  • Areas or intersections with an identifiable, documented history of speeding problems
  • Intersections with an identifiable, documented history of offences
  • Intersections near schools, post-secondary institutions, or other areas with high pedestrian volumes:
    • School and playground zones or areas
    • Construction zones
    • Areas where the public or a community has expressed concerns related to speeding

 ATE Guidelines

Where does the money from automated traffic enforcement go?

Funds generated by automated traffic enforcement are part of the Traffic Safety Automated Enforcement Reserve and do not go into general City revenues. 

Through the reserve, funds are reinvested back into traffic safety programs, including:

  • 15% of the total fine goes to Victims Services
  • 25% goes to the Alberta Government
  • $22 million/year to Edmonton Police Service for traffic services
  • The remaining fine balance goes to the Reserve Fund to support Council’s traffic safety priorities

Since 2009, over 500 traffic safety devices have been installed throughout Edmonton, including 150 signalling improvements and intersection upgrades, 165 school traffic safety reviews and more than 200 driver feedback signs.

Mobile speed enforcement is an important tool to encourage safe speeds on Edmonton’s streets. The City combines electronic feedback signs, community traffic-calming, speed limits, and enforcement to encourage safe speeds on our streets. We’re happy to share that excessive speeding violations of 21 km/h over posted speed limits dropped 25% from 2018 to 2019 at all mobile speed enforcement locations. 

Why are safe speeds important to the City and to Vision Zero?

Encouraging safe speed is an important aspect of traffic safety as speed is a factor in the frequency and outcome of every crash. Even a small difference in speed can mean the difference between life and death, especially for people walking, biking, and riding motorcycles.

Since Vision Zero was adopted by the City of Edmonton in 2015, fatalities have decreased by 56% and serious injuries have declined by 30%.

As shown in this graph, slowing down gives drivers more time to react to the unexpected and can help avoid collisions. While speed doesn’t always cause crashes, it always determines the severity of a crash.

Are operators in the City of Edmonton qualified in the Province of Alberta?

Mobile speed enforcement units are staffed by provincial peace officers, who are trained and certified as qualified operators.  Each potential violation is reviewed ​by the operator for accuracy and other related variables to ensure the speed and vehicle are recorded accurately.

Intersection safety devices automatically record both speeding and red light violations when they occur and transfer those potential violations to our database. Our reviewers then independently review each potential violation for accuracy and validity before a violation ticket is issued.  

Evaluation of Speed Enforcement on Arterial Roads

Has mobile speed enforcement been challenged in court?

Mobile speed enforcement has been challenged on technical and constitutional arguments, up to the Court of Appeal in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. However, ​mobile speed enforcement has withstood all appeals and petitions.

Violators are photographed as they pass by automated traffic enforcement locations enabling police to produce valid evidence in court.

Related Documents

Safety Assessment of Driver Feedback Signs and Development of Future Expansion Program

Safe Roads - Winter Driving

Safe Roads - Back to School

Safe Roads - Spring and Summer Driving

Edmonton Road Safety Strategy 2016-2020

The City of Edmonton is the first Canadian city to adopt Vision Zero.

Speed Management Continuum

Related Links

Automated Parking Enforcement Program

Red Light Rules

For More Information

311 Contact Centre

Online Contact 311 Online

If you are calling from outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311

Telephone

311
TTY 780-944-5555

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