Ottawa’s red-light cameras issue $5.5 million in fines so far in 2025: Here are the hot spots

The city of Ottawa's Open Data shows there are 85 red light cameras set up at Ottawa intersections

Ottawa motorists appear to be stopping more often at intersections, as the number of red-light camera tickets continues to drop this year.

Statistics available on the City of Ottawa’s website show 16,857 tickets for red-light camera violations have been issued in the first five months of the year, down from 19,823 tickets in the January to May period of 2024 and 20,744 red-light camera tickets during the same period in 2023.

The red-light camera on Wellington Street eastbound at Bay Street is Ottawa’s busiest red-light camera, with 839 tickets issued in the first five months of the year.

Three of Ottawa’s 12 busiest red-light cameras are located on King Edward Avenue. The camera on King Edward northbound at St. Andrew has caught 722 red-light runners through the first five months of the year, while the camera on King Edward northbound at Besserer Street has issued 604 tickets for red light camera violations.

The camera on King Edward Avenue southbound at St. Patrick Street has issued 367 tickets for red-light camera violations in the January to May period.

The red-light cameras along Catherine Street have also been busy this year. The camera on Catherine Street westbound at Kent Street has issued 327 tickets for red-light camera violations, the camera at Catherine Street westbound at O’Connor and the Highway 417 on-ramp has issued 392 tickets and the camera on Catherine Street northbound at Kent has issued 311 tickets.

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.

Revenue from the red-light camera program is intended to support road safety. A report from the auditor general earlier this year found $10.7 million in funding from red light cameras installed since 2020 was not “used exclusively for road safety issues.”

Nine cameras have issued zero tickets for red-red light camera violations so far in 2025.

Ottawa’s 13 busiest red-light cameras in the first five months of 2025

• Wellington Street eastbound at Bay Street: 839 tickets
• King Edward Avenue northbound at St. Andrew: 722 tickets
• King Edward Avenue northbound at Besserer Street: 604 tickets
• Hunt Club Road eastbound at Downpatrick/McCarthy: 510 tickets
• Carling Avenue eastbound at Holly Acres: 502 tickets
• Heron Road eastbound near Bank Street: 501 tickets
• Kent Street northbound at Arlington: 480 tickets
• Walkley Road westbound at Ryder/Don Reid Drive: 480 tickets
• Carling Avenue eastbound at Island Park Drive: 402 tickets
• Catherine Street and O’Connor Street westbound at Highway 417 ramp: 392 tickets
• Vanier Parkway southbound at Presland: 391 tickets
• Maitland Avenue northbound at Erindale Drive/Glenmount Avenue: 371 tickets (four months)
• King Edward Avenue southbound at St. Patrick: 367 tickets