Edmonton to take over photo radar and red light cameras

The Edmonton Police Service will take over the operation of the city's five photo radar and 24 red light cameras, city councillors voted Tuesday.

It will take a year or more to complete the transfer of the service from a private contractor to the force, Edmonton police Insp. Darren Eastcott told CBC News.

In the meantime, officials will look at what improvements might need to be made, he said.

"We haven't changed the number of photo radar vans for years, we haven't changed the number of intersections for years, and it's an opportunity as a city to look at how we're doing that," Eastcott said.

"We're right in the process of dealing with a consultant, an international consultant, on traffic safety and they're going to look at what would be an optimum number of cameras that we need here in the city of Edmonton to address the safety factors for the city of Edmonton. "

Any decision to increase the number of photo radar vans or red light cameras will be about traffic safety and not a cash grab, Eastcott said.

It will cost the city almost $4 million to buy the equipment needed to operate the service. But city officials say the takeover could lead to profits of up to $2 million a year through traffic tickets, meaning it will take only two years of operation to cover the startup costs.

Approximately 150,000 photo radar and red light tickets are issued each year.