N.B. now allows red-light cameras and other traffic-enforcement technology | CBC News

After lobbying the provincial government for more than a decade, municipalities can now legally use red-light cameras.

New legislation that took effect on Oct. 1 allows the use of such traffic-enforcement technologies. But are municipalities going to greenlight the new tools?

Representatives from Edmundston, Bathurst, Miramichi, Moncton and Saint John all said those municipalities have no immediate plans to adopt any of the now-allowed technology.

A spokesperson for the City of Fredericton said they are "always exploring new and innovative ways to improve traffic safety." But, said Elizabeth Fraser, the city is planning to wait for "finalized regulations" from the province before forging ahead.

Fredericton Coun. Bruce Grandy has been a longtime advocate for installing red-light cameras. Between he and former councillor Stephen Chase, the city has been lobbying the province to see such changes for at least 15 years.

Although Grandy said he is eager to implement red-light cameras, he wants to make sure the city gets a fair share of the fines that will be collected.

Grandy said if the city has to pay for the infrastructure, then it should get 100 per cent of the revenue.

"If municipalities are spending the capital cost to buy these devices, that fine revenue should help pay for those devices," he said.

"There's obviously operational costs with these as well. You don't just plunk them in."

Grandy said cities in other provinces have worked out cost-sharing agreements between the levels of government. He said the Union of the Municipalities of New Brunswick has been talking to the provincial government for years about the technology and related funding formulas.

"But we haven't got any response from the government yet," said Grandy.

He suspects the province will want "a substantial piece of that pie for themselves."

"I can't imagine what's taking so long," he said. "To me, it's a pretty simple calculation that should be used."

The legislation itself doesn't cover costs or revenue-sharing.

CBC New Brunswick asked the provincial government for details about whether it will start using some of the tools now at its disposal, as well as about plans for cost-sharing.

Allan Dearing, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice and Public Safety, sent a one-sentence response: "The department is still having discussions with municipalities across the province on this file."

The Union of the Municipalities of New Brunswick has not responded to a request for comment.

The legislation allows cameras and radar to be used to issue tickets for Motor Vehicle Act infractions like speeding, running red lights and passing school buses when the lights are flashing.

Municipalities like Fredericton and Moncton have long asked for the power to use red-light cameras, so it's likely to be the first of the newly allowed technologies to be implemented.

A red-light camera is an automated system that detects and captures images of vehicles that enter an intersection after the traffic light turns red.

Under New Brunswick's new legislation, a ticket "accompanied by a photograph of the alleged offence generated by an image-capturing enforcement system" is sent by mail to the registered owner of the vehicle, regardless of who was driving. No points will be lost since the driver is not identified.

The legislation doesn't specify the amount of any fines.

The City of Toronto, for example, sets the fine for running a red light at $260, plus a $60 victim fine surcharge and $5 to cover court costs — for a total of $325.

New Brunswick's legislation also doesn't state that motorists should be warned about the use of such technology, unlike some other provinces.

Municipal police forces, meanwhile, are waiting to see what local governments decide, since it's the municipalities that will be responsible for implementing the technology.

For example, Saint John Police Force spokesperson Staff Sgt. Matthew Weir said he isn't aware of immediate plans to start using any of the now-legal technology.

"I suspect there will need to be further discussions at higher levels to determine if and when we start using it," he said when asked last week.

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Hans Ouellette said it's up to municipalities in the province "to install, deploy and maintain this technology" if they want to use it.

The RCMP in New Brunswick "does not own or operate photo radar, red-light cameras or automated licence plate readers," he said.

Mia Urquhart is a journalist with CBC New Brunswick, based in Saint John. She can be reached at [email protected].