Updated October 28, 2024 | Published September 19, 2024
Photo radar is used in Quebec to detect speeding infractions or failure to stop at a red light. Photo radar cameras are used at identified locations throughout the province to improve road safety.
In this article, we’ll explain how speed and red-light cameras work in Quebec, how tickets are issued, how to pay a fine, and how speeding tickets impact your car insurance policy.
The important points
Three types of photo radar are present in Quebec:
Fixed photo radar is installed at the edge of public roads to measure vehicle speed. A camera takes photos of vehicles exceeding the speed limit.
Mobile photo radar can be moved from one location to another. The camera may be installed on a van, a trailer, or a roadside tripod.
Red light monitoring equipment is installed at intersections equipped with traffic lights to take photos of vehicles running a red light. The equipment also has a speed control function that can be activated to photograph vehicles exceeding the speed limit.
Photo radar is designed to improve road safety. Signs announcing their presence tend to encourage motorists to adapt their behaviour behind the wheel. In Quebec, statistics have shown a reduction in the number of accidents where these devices are installed:
When photo radar detects a speeding or red-light violation, the device takes encrypted photos of the vehicle and its licence plate. It also records the time, date, and location of the offence, the vehicle’s speed, as well as the traffic light colour.
To protect the privacy of the driver and passengers, the vehicle’s interior is masked in the photograph.
The photos are then sent to the Centre de traitement de la preuve (evidence handling centre or CTP), under the aegis of the provincial police force, the Sûreté du Québec. A peace officer examines each photo to determine if an offence has occurred. In the event of a violation, the offender will receive a notice of infraction by mail.
Important: No notices are sent by email. If you receive an email request asking you to pay a fine, you should disregard it.
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Upon receiving a statement of offence, you have 30 days to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. If you plead guilty, you pay the fine according to the timeline indicated on the notice and the file will be closed. If you want to dispute the offence, you can plead not guilty. You will receive a notice to appear in court in the judicial district in which the offence took place.
Remember that a photo radar ticket will not carry licence demerit points or affect your car insurance premium.
In Quebec, penalties for speeding vary based on the severity of the offence. Fines for speeding start at $15, with additional charges depending on how much the speed exceeded the limit. 2 Here’s how the extra costs are calculated:
You must also pay legal costs and contribution. Contribution is a mandatory amount that goes to the Crime Victims Assistance Fund and the Access to Justice Fund.
No. An offence detected by photo radar will not affect your premium, because the camera does not identify the individual who was driving the vehicle at the time of the offence. By the same token, you would not be assessed demerit points.
However, if the ticket is issued by an officer, your premium will be affected and you could be assessed demerit points, depending on the severity of the offence. This is because an officer pulling over a driver for speeding or running a red light will positively identify the driver.
As of July 1st, 2024, Quebeckers can no longer identify another person who was driving their vehicle at the time of the offence. The owner of the vehicle is responsible for any photo radar ticket, regardless of who was behind the wheel. 3
No. Fines and costs arising from offences detected by photo radar go to the Road Safety Fund, and these sums may only be used to finance road safety measures or programs, and assistance for road accident victims. 1
Sources
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