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