Strathcona County is preparing to remove its mobile photo radar units and instead add more peace officers to catch speedy drivers.

“There’s no camera, there’s no photo part of it,” said RCMP Cst. Wally Henry.

Mounties say being pulled over and losing demerits will drive home the message for motorists to slow down, as opposed to receiving monetary fines.

“The biggest thing that people are going to notice, (for people) who are habitual speeders and were comfortable just paying the photo radar ticket, is that there are demerits associated when they’re given the ticket and it’s issued to the person driving the vehicle, so that’s something people will have to take into account,” Henry said.

Strathcona County Council voted to abolish mobile photo radar enforcement and instead approve the hiring of five additional peace officers to conduct speed enforcement last year.

The change comes into effect Sept. 1.

“This idea was brought forward by Strathcona County council, who did their research and thought that they would give this a shot because it was never about the monetary aspect of it with photo radar, and that’s the view that Strathcona County is taking - that this is about traffic safety,” Henry said.

“The five new enforcement officers with Strathcona County Enforcement Services will be up and running and they will be working with RCMP members in what we call an integrated traffic unit. The markings on the vehicle are different, the uniforms look different, but we will work side-by-side.”

Whether the removal of photo radar trucks will actually deter speeders remains to be seen.

“I think speeders are going to speed anyways, whether there’s photo radar or not,” said Christine Mitchell.

“I think that’s going backwards,” said Zen Roskewich.

“I think they should keep that enforced. There’s a lot of people speeding here.”

But officials are hopeful.

“That driver is going to be held accountable for their action at the time that the offence is committed,” Henry said.

Permanent speed and red light cameras will remain at major intersections in Sherwood Park.

Police are reminding motorists that the following demerits are applied in speeding cases:
 

  • 1-15 km/h over the posted speed limit - 2 demerit points
  • 16-30 km/h over the posted speed limit - 3 demerit points
  • 31-50 km/h over the posted speed limit - 4 demerit points
  • Any speed in excess of 51 km/h over the posted limit - 6 demerit points

Individuals with a regular Class 5 Alberta Driver’s License can receive up a maximum of 15 demerit points before their driving privileges are revoked.

With files from Julia Parrish