$38 million in fines for red-light, photo radar camera violations on Ottawa roads last year

This photo radar camera on King Edward Avenue, between Bolton Street and St. Patrick Street, is one of four cameras on the busy street in Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood. There are three red light cameras on the road. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa)

Motorists paid more than $38.5 million in fines after being caught by photo radar and red-light cameras on Ottawa roads last year.

Data provided to CTV News Ottawa shows the City of Ottawa received $27.786 million in “total paid revenue” from automated speed enforcement camera tickets in the first 11 months of the year, and $10.9 million in “total paid revenue” from red light camera tickets. Revenue data for December is still being calculated.

In 2023, the city received $26.6 million in revenue from red light and photo radar camera tickets.

Ottawa’s red-light camera and photo radar camera programs resulted in 391,132 tickets issued between January and November 2024, compared to 277,264 tickets in all of 2023.

• Record number of tickets issued through Ottawa’s photo radar cameras in 2024: Here are the hot spots for speeding tickets

The fine for a photo radar camera ticket is based on the speed observed by the camera, while the fine for running a red light through the red-light camera program is $260, plus a $5 service fee and $60 victim surcharge.

The boost in revenue in 2024 comes as the city installed 29 new photo radar cameras in school zones, community safety zones and high-speed zones last year.

“The City of Ottawa continues to expand the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program to make our streets safer for everyone,” Krista Tanaka, Director of Traffic Services, said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.

“The goal is to help reduce speeds and encourage safer driving behaviours, especially in residential areas where speeding can be dangerous. The increase in revenue generated in 2024 is primarily due to the addition of 29 new cameras.”

Revenue from the photo radar and red-light camera tickets supports Ottawa’s Road Safety Action Plan, with proceeds “reinvested into road safety for all road users including the most vulnerable – pedestrian, cyclists and motorcyclists,” Tanaka said.

Tanaka says data shows the automated speed enforcement cameras (ASE) are “having their intended effect,” with drivers adjusting their speeds on Ottawa roads.

“We are seeing improved driver behaviour and safer roads,” Tanaka said. “ASE cameras are having their intended effect, as we are seeing improved driver behaviour and safer roads. A recent analysis of the ASE pilot sites demonstrates that the longer the speed cameras are in place at these locations.”

Data shows at the first eight locations for automated speed enforcement cameras installed in 2020, 81 per cent of drivers were complying with the posted speed limit three years after the cameras were installed. That’s compared to 57 per cent compliance after three months and 69 per cent following the speed limit after one year.

Here is a look at the breakdown of red-light camera and photo radar camera tickets

Photo radar

The city says it received $27.786 million in “total paid revenue” from photo radar camera tickets in the January to November period in 2024, up from $14.345 million in 2023.

Ottawa had 49 automated speed enforcement cameras in operation at the end of November, including nine activated in November.

A total of 348,636 speeding tickets were issued through the photo radar camera program in the January-November period last year. There were 220,789 speeding tickets issued by the automated speed enforcement camera program in 2023.

The photo radar cameras generated $3 million in fine revenue in July, when 32,461 speeding tickets were issued, and $3.3 million in May, when 32,689 tickets were issued.

Sixty photo radar cameras were in operation in Ottawa at the end of 2024, with plans to install another 24 cameras this year.

Red light cameras

Red light camera violations generated $10.9 million in “total paid revenue” for the City of Ottawa in the first 11 months of the year.

A total of 42,496 tickets were issued through the red-light camera program between January and November 2024.

In 2023, 56,475 tickets for running a red light through the red-light camera program generated $12.275 million for the city.