Canada: Errant Speed Camera Tickets Slow Drivers Refunds issued to 158 motorists

Canada: Errant Speed Camera Tickets Slow Drivers
Refunds issued to 158 motorists in Edmonton, Canada ticketed by a speed camera for traveling at or below the limit.

http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/pix/edrvb.jpgThe city of Edmonton, Canada admitted this week that 158 motorists were ticketed for driving at or below the speed limit on June 21. Because a mobile speed camera unit on the Whitemud Freeway at Rainbow Valley Bridge was set up improperly that day, the city will cancel or refund about $11,000 worth of citations, the Canadian Press reported.

The average safe travel and design speed of the Whitemud Freeway is 100km/h (62 MPH), but city officials lowered the limit to 80km/h (50 MPH), making it a favorite location to deploy mobile photo radar traps. On Sunday, June 21, a camera operator set the device's trigger speed to 70km/h (43 MPH).

The tickets were processed, issued and mailed without any verification that the settings were correct. When motorist Matt O'Daly received a $71 ticket in the mail, he remembered that he had not been speeding on that day. After he complained to the Edmonton Police Service, officials were forced to admit the error.

Source: Man challenges photo radar ticket, finds mistake (Canadian Press, 7/7/2009)