SGI says Regina speed camera ticket numbers down due to poor batteries

Bad replacement batteries contributed to a lack of functioning speed cameras in school zones and on roads in Regina.

The Regina Board of Police Commissioners midway report shows there were 54 per cent fewer tickets issued midway through 2023 than in 2022, despite 14 per cent more traffic tickets being issued.

The photo speed enforcement program began in 2014 after the Special Committee on Traffic Safety recommended the program to try and reduce fatalities, injuries, and collisions in the province. The speed cameras are most often seen in school zones, but are often used in construction zones and high-traffic roadways.

Cameras are operating in Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and Wakaw.

Batteries are used in all photo speed enforcement cameras around the province.

Tyler McMurchy, SGI’s media co-ordinator, said the biggest contributing factor was the batteries that powered the photo speed enforcement cameras. The vendor that was in charge of the cameras had to change the type of batteries used in the cameras to comply with federal regulations.

“That change was made last year, but the alternative batteries … were employed as a temporary measure until more appropriate long-term replacements could be found,” said McMurchy. “Those alternative batteries have pretty significant performance issues when the weather got really cold.

“This resulted in fewer violations detected and then therefore fewer tickets issued between the last couple of months of 2022 and the first few months of 2023.”

McMurchy said SGI noticed problems with the batteries in the fall of 2022. The vendor was able to replace the batteries with more suitable long-term batteries in May. Supply chain issues caused a holdup from the beginning of the fall to now.

“The new batteries seem to be working fine, and everything is back to normal working as it should,” said McMurchy.

Other factors that could have contributed to the speed cameras operation was damage to the lenses, but McMurchy said that was not as big of a problem as the batteries.

“SGI and the vendor did notice some issues affecting the lens as well,” he said, “although the much more significant issue was the battery issue.”

The photo speed enforcement program was intended to encourage drivers to slow down for safety concerns. McMurchy said SGI has shown that by clearly labelling places where the speed cameras are in effect.

“The goal is not to generate tickets, or generate revenue. The goal is to lower speeds,” said McMurchy. “If motorists see those signs, and understand that photo speed enforcement is taking place, it gives them the opportunity to lower speeds and avoid the ticket altogether.”

SGI’s school zone penalties are $170 at the base line. That increases by $4 per kilometre in school zones up to 30 km/h over the posted speed limit, and $8 in school zones when drivers are over 30 km/h from the posted speed limit.