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
