Photo radar has been back in action in Quebec since the provincial government modified the Highway Safety Code earlier this year, but it's far from the cash cow it once was.
While the cameras never went away, their use dropped drastically in 2017 following a Quebec court decision that rejected evidence obtained from a photo radar machine.
Following the change in the spring, the number of tickets sent out, and ultimately the money collected, started to rise. The jump went from $1,400 in April, just before the law was changed, to nearly $7,000 in May, after the rules were re-written.
Between January 1 and August 31 of 2018, the cameras have caught motorists breaking the law to the tune of $65,500. However, that is almost $300,000 less 2017 (just before a Quebec Judge ruled the evidence collected by a camera was inadmissible in court), and close to $11 million less than in 2016.
So what gives? Are the cameras working? Yes. Are Quebecers suddenly safer drivers? No.
The problem is with the government.
A spokesperson for the Transport Ministry told the Journal de Montreal all of the provinces 210 cameras are working, a little too well actually. Since the rules regarding the cameras were changed this year, to be able to send a ticket to an offending motorist there's a new burden of proof. This has led to a backlog in the Ministry's evidence processing department.
The delays in processing mean many tickets are not being sent out within the 30 day window authorities have to issue the fine.