Photo Enforcement
Keeping City Streets Safe
The Calgary Police Service uses automated photo enforcement to make the roads in Calgary safer by reducing collisions and, in turn, reducing injuries and deaths. Photo radar is used:
- to enforce speeding violations in locations where it is unsafe for police officers to conduct manual enforcement; or,
- in areas where the safety of pedestrians, construction zone workers, or other drivers might be compromised by a manned traffic stop.
There are two types of photo enforcement that the Calgary Police Service uses to keep motorists safe: Photo Radar and Intersection Safety Cameras.
Photo Radar
Photo Radar is operated from a vehicle and can be deployed to address specific speeding issues in communities.
It can also be used on multi-lane highways, where it is unsafe to use officers to enforce speeds; as well as in school, playground and construction zones.
The radar measures the speed of a vehicle and triggers a camera to take a photo if it’s speeding.
Photo radar is enforcement that captures a photograph of a speeding vehicle. As a vehicle enters the radar beam it is detected and the speed is calculated. When the end of the vehicle is detected and if that vehicle’s speed exceeds the posted speed limit for the particular location, the system sets off an audible alarm and takes a photo. During low light periods, a flash is incorporated to enhance the image.
View a PDF of all locations.
Intersection Safety Cameras
Intersection Safety Cameras can photograph vehicles entering intersections during all phases of the signals. These cameras can take a photo with more then one vehicle in the picture; each photo is taken lane specific.
View a map of all the current camera locations or click to view a PDF of all locations.
Red Light Phase
Running a red light significantly increases the chances of being involved in a serious injury, right-angle collision. To deter people from taking the risk, automated cameras capture images of vehicles that run red lights.
Green and Yellow Light Phase
Collisions where speed is a factor can cause significant increases in the severity of injuries and damages caused. To encourage drivers to slow down, automated cameras capture images of vehicles speeding through green and yellow lights.
Do the Cameras Work?
We are all concerned about traffic safety. The Calgary Police Service combines analysis, education and enforcement to protect the people who use our roadways. Automated enforcement is designed to reduce speeds and collisions in our communities.
Analysis of Photo Radar has shown a decrease in injury collisions by 25 per cent at 20 of the most frequently deployed locations.
Intersection Safety Cameras have contributed to a decrease in right-angle collisions by 48.2 per cent. Rear-end collisions have decreased by 39.6 per cent across the city.
Did you know…
• Traffic collisions are the leading cause of death for Albertans under the age of 30.
• Collisions have a direct impact on health services; injuries contribute to approximately 30,000 hours of wait time each year in Calgary’s medical emergency departments, and cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
• For every dollar spent on an Intersection Safety Camera, society saves $11 in terms of medical costs, emergency services, property damage and lost productivity.
• Approximately 10% of vehicles speed through intersections.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What happens when I get a ticket?
The Offence Notice/Violation Ticket is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.
Where can I pay for the ticket?
Tickets can be paid at Provincial Court (court calendar download) or online following the directions on the violation ticket portion of the document. The ticket needs to be dealt with on or before the appearance date on the violation ticket.
Who can I talk to if I have any questions regarding the ticket issued without having to attend court?
COURT RELATED QUESTION: Contact Provincial Traffic Court at 403-297-2283 or email caltraffic.counter@gov.ab.ca
OTHER: Contact Calgary Police Service, Ticket Control at 403-428-5991 or email ticketcontrol@calgarypolice.ca
Do I have to attend court, or can someone attend on my behalf?
Anyone can act as your ‘agent’ and attend Provincial Court on your behalf for a ticket issued.
Where can I go to view a better picture of the offence for which I am charged?
You may view the actual photo up to 12 months after the offence date, at:
Calgary Police Service
Ticket Control Unit (Front counter kiosk)
CPS Westwinds Campus Headquarters (East Building)
5111 47 Street N.E.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday
10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
(Closed statutory holidays)
If I plead guilty to a photo radar offence notice/ticket, will I receive demerits against my driver’s license?
There are no demerit points associated to any automated enforcement tickets if you plead guilty, as they are issued to the registered owner of the vehicle and not a specific person as the driver.
I received an offence notice/ticket in the mail, but someone else was driving. Can you send the offence notice/ticket to the individual that was driving?
No. Provincial legislation requires the offence notice to be issued to the registered owner of the licence plate on the violating vehicle. The registered owner is therefore the person summoned and is responsible for responding to the offence notice by the date noted on the violation ticket.
I received a photo radar offence notice/ticket in the mail, and I don’t agree with it. Who can I contact to further discuss this matter?
Once a ticket is issued to the registered owner it becomes a Provincial Court matter. Options are listed on the violation ticket portion of the document as to how you may address or contest the offence notice/ticket.
What if my vehicle or licence plate was stolen and I received a ticket?
If your vehicle or licence plate has been stolen and you received a ticket during the time it was stolen, please contact the Traffic Section at 403-567-4026 or you can email your information to ticketcontrol@calgarypolice.ca. Please include the ticket number and Calgary Police Service case number.
Does someone review the photographs before motorists are ticketed?
Yes. Trained and qualified provincially appointed peace officers review every image to verify that the vehicle is in violation and that the vehicle information is correct. Tickets are mailed to registered owners where it is clear the vehicle committed a speed or red-light infraction.
There is a vehicle travelling the opposite direction in the photograph; how can you be sure it was my vehicle that was speeding?
Photo radar is set up to only capture vehicle speeds of receding traffic. This means that a car going in the opposite direction is never captured by our equipment.
There are other vehicles travelling beside me in the photo. How do you know I was the one who was speeding?
If there is more than one vehicle in the photograph for photo radar infractions, the ticket will not be issued. With only one vehicle in the captured image there is no question regarding travel speed of the vehicle. Intersection cameras can have more than one vehicle in the photo; they are lane specific.
Does a ticket impact my insurance?
Your driving record is not affected by automated enforcement tickets.
If I operate a commercial vehicle that is monitored through the National Safety Code, will my automated enforcement tickets be included in the carrier profile?
Yes, convictions against the carrier and its drivers are included in carrier profiles. This includes automated enforcement tickets.
On my photo radar offence notice/ticket, when detailing the information regarding the date and time of the offence, why does it say, "On or about?"
This wording is part of the provincially legislated form and is required for legal purposes.
Why is there a person in the photo radar vehicle?
Persons designated as peace officers in the Province of Alberta man the mobile photo radar vehicles. The operator is responsible for setting up and testing the equipment in the vehicle. The operator also observes and makes notes on each violation.
Why does photo radar occasionally operate in areas designated "No Stopping/No Parking?"
In general photo radar vehicles do not operate in restricted areas. This does occur only under specific instructions from the Calgary Police Service. These vehicles are exempt under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act (sections 63 and 64) and may enforce in a restricted area the same as any conventional police vehicle.
How do I get photo radar to set up on my street?
Complaints about speeding vehicles are one of the most common received by the Calgary Police Service. We work closely with communities to address these concerns; if you have a traffic complaint in your community, you can contact the Traffic Section, that will review the issue and determine the resources required to address your concern.
To make a request, please visit www.calgarypolice.ca to access the Traffic Service Request Form. A member of the Photo Radar Unit will call you back to discuss your concerns and determine if a photo radar unit will be deployed in your area.
How many photo radar vehicles and intersection cameras are deployed throughout the city of Calgary?
Currently there are 10 photo radar vehicles and 55 intersection cameras that are deployed within the city of Calgary.
How are photo radar enforcement sites selected?
All sites are selected pursuant to the guidelines set out by the Province of Alberta. Photo radar sites are selected based on one or more of the following criteria:
- high speed corridors;
- high collision locations;
- school and playground zones;
- construction zones; or
- citizen concerns.
What are the locations of the photo radar cameras around the city?
Locations for both Photo Radar and Intersection Safety Cameras are community focused and selected based on analysis of violations and fatal, injury and property damage collisions.
- For a full list of photo radar locations, click here to download a PDF.
- For a full list of Intersection Saftey Cameras, please refer to the Calgary Police Service website here.
Does CPS have to adhere to any guidelines for its Automated Traffic Enforcement program?
Yes, government guidelines for the use of automated enforcement are posted on the Government of Alberta’s website at www.alberta.ca.
Where does the money from Automated Traffic Enforcement go?
Fifteen per cent of the total fine amount is given to Victim Services; 16.67 per cent goes to the Provincial Government, and the balance of the fine goes to the Municipal Government. If there is a late payment penalty attached to the fine, the province receives the surcharge amount associated with the ticket.
For more information about photo enforcement, or if you have any questions, please visit:
- www.calgarypolice.ca/photoenforcement
- @calgarypolice
- www.facebook.com/calgarypolice
- or call the Traffic Section at 403-567-4000.