Photo Radar & Speed Cameras
Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) varies wildly across Canada. Some provinces rely heavily on them, while others have banned them entirely. Here is what you need to know about photo radar tickets.
No Demerit Points
Because speed cameras take a photo of the licence plate, the ticket is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle, not the driver. Therefore, photo radar tickets carry a financial fine but never result in demerit points.
No Insurance Impact
For the exact same reason, photo radar tickets do not go on your driving record and do not affect your auto insurance premiums. They are treated purely as an administrative fine, similar to a parking ticket.
Where are they legal?
Not all provinces allow automated speed enforcement. In provinces where they are banned (like British Columbia for standard highways, though intersection cameras exist), all speeding tickets must be issued by a police officer.
| Province | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | In Use | Photo radar is widely used by municipalities, generating fines without demerit points. |
| British Columbia | In Use | Intersection Safety Cameras (ISCs) enforce both red lights and speeding at key intersections. |
| Manitoba | In Use | Common in Winnipeg. |
| New Brunswick | Banned / Rare | Standard police enforcement. |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | In Use | Recent pilot of ASE. |
| Nova Scotia | Banned / Rare | Manual enforcement. |
| Northwest Territories | Banned / Rare | RCMP. |
| Nunavut | Banned / Rare | RCMP. |
| Ontario | In Use | Photo radar was banned provincially, but Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) operates in designated safety/school zones municipality by municipality. |
| Prince Edward Island | Banned / Rare | Traditional policing. |
| Quebec | In Use | Photo radars issue fines without demerit points to the registered owner. |
| Saskatchewan | In Use | Used in specific locations. |
| Yukon | Banned / Rare | RCMP enforcement. |