Ottawa’s red-light cameras caught fewer drivers over the winter: Here are the hot spots for tickets

A red light camera sign is seen in Ottawa in this undated photo. (CTV News Ottawa)

Fewer Ottawa drivers were caught running red lights at Ottawa’s red-light cameras through the first three months of the year.

Statistics from the City of Ottawa shows 9,040 tickets were issued through the red-light camera program in January, February and March, the fewest number of tickets issued by red light cameras during the first three months of the year in three years.

A total of 10,786 tickets were issued through the red-light camera program in the January-March period in 2024 and 10,533 tickets were issued for red light camera violations in 2023. In 2022, a total of 6,340 were issued in the January-March period, when fewer people were on the roads during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Data for 10 of the 85 red light cameras was listed as “N/A” for all three months in the period, but no reason was given for the lack of data. Three other cameras had no data available for at least one of the three months in the January-March period.

The busiest red-light camera in the January-March period was the camera on Wellington Street at Bay Street, with 441 tickets issued over the three-month period.

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The camera on King Edward Avenue at Besserer Street caught 330 drivers running red lights in the three-month period, while the camera on King Edward Avenue at St. Patrick Street issued 298 tickets and the camera on King Edward Avenue at St. Andrew issued 295 tickets for red light camera violations.

The cameras on Carling Avenue at Holly Acres and at Hunt Club and Downpatrick/McCarty each issued 276 tickets for red light violations in the January-March period.

The fine for being caught running a red light by the red light camera is $325. The ticket for running the red light is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle, regardless of who is driving the car at the time of the alleged offence.

Ottawa currently has 85 red light cameras installed at intersections across the city.

Top 10 spots for red light camera tickets in Ottawa in the January-March period

• Wellington Street at Bay Street (eastbound): 441 tickets
• King Edward Avenue at Besserer Street (northbound): 330 tickets
• King Edward Avenue at St. Patrick Street (southbound): 298 tickets
• King Edward Avenue at St. Andrew Street (northbound):  295 tickets
• Carling Avenue at Holly Acres (eastbound): 276 tickets
• Hunt Club Road at Downpatrick/McCarty: 276 tickets
• Kent Street at Arlington Avenue (eastbound): 266 tickets
• Heron Road west of Bank Street (eastbound): 250 tickets
• Walkley Road at Ryder/Don Reid Drive (westbound): 224 tickets
• Berrigan Drive at Wessex/Greenbank (northbound): 218 tickets