Advanced polls have opened in Morinville for residents to have their say on the future of photo radar in the town.
Town mayor, Lisa Holmes, said council made the decision to let residents have their say after a petition prompted the development of a bylaw.
“Our council really believes that photo radar is a good tool to use. It does need some modification on how we do use it but we felt that we were not willing to completely ban it from our community,” she explained.
Some residents told CTV News they felt the program was simply a cash grab for the town.
“I am all for slowing down speeders,” Chris Postill said.
“But I don’t agree with the cash cow that it is.
“If you are going to speed, you are going to speed. Forty or 50 bucks probably isn’t going to stop you from speeding down the road.”
Adrienne Hazelaar agreed.
“I don’t want photo radar in my town anymore. I think it is just a cash cow for the town.
“I don’t see it doing a lot of good,” she added.
However, longtime resident Kevin Munroe sees it differently.
“I support photo radar. I think it slows people down.
“I’ve had a couple of tickets but I have learnt,” he admitted.
Both Hazelaar and Postill said they would prefer to see more police officers issuing tickets.
Something that Holmes said would come at a cost.
“In order to replace the amount of time and the number of tickets that we issue with automated enforcement, we would be looking at two additional community peace officers at a cost of about $300,000 a year.”
She also explained that the automated system brought in about $250,000 to $300,000 a year. Money they have been using for traffic initiatives and to pay down the cost of building the cultural community centre.
“It is a voluntary tax in essence. You only pay if you are speeding, if you are breaking the law.”
Polls will be open Monday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Morinville’s cultural centre.
With files from Amanda Anderson
