WHEREAS speeding traffic in school and playground zones creates hazard and injury for children; AND WHEREAS increased police enforcement and volunteer radar reader boards are labour intensive and meet with limited long term success: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the provincial government to change its legislation to permit the use of speed cameras in school and playground traffic zones; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that fine revenue be shared on a negotiated basis between local governments.
Ministry of Justice Government cancelled photo radar in 2001 because of a policy position that it undermined public confidence in traffic enforcement. Instead, the Province put more police on the streets to deliver targeted enforcement strategies through Integrated Road Safety Units as part of the Enhanced Road Safety program. In addition, the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program returns 100 percent of net traffic fine revenues to municipalities that are directly responsible for paying for policing. These financial resources aid local governments in ensuring community safety and addressing community specific strategic priorities. All traffic fines collected are pooled and then redistributed to municipalities based on the proportion that each municipality pays for its policing costs. The Province maintains that together, these strategies are more effective than the old photo radar program. That said, there is always an interest in new approaches, including technologies, that might help to make BC roads safer, as well as improving officer safety and efficiency.