Gord Steeves (CHRISD.CA FILE)
Winnipeg mayoral candidate Gord Steeves would make drastic changes to photo radar in the city if elected.
Steeves on Wednesday said since the program was introduced in 2002, its focus has shifted from promoting public safety to being a cash grab.
“If we don’t make changes soon, the city will face the expense of having to refund fines collected from wrongfully-issued tickets en masse,” Steeves said.
The former city councillor said enforcement is targeting deficiencies in traffic engineering standards such as the improper setting of speed limits, poor speed limit signage and improper amber light timing at intersections.
Steeves said there needs to be clear signage for speed limits on both sides of the road when it’s divided by a media, saying Winnipeg issues 400 percent more photo radar tickets than any other jurisdiction.
Steeves also said the city’s four-second amber lights aren’t fair to drivers, adding because of the short timing, photo radar is able to issue 750 percent more tickets in 80 km/h zones.
Steeves has previously said the public has lost faith in photo radar, and criticized its use in construction zones earlier in the campaign.
