Stay informed with the LNN Daily Newsletter
Photo radar sites have been added near dozens of schools in Lethbridge. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

Photo radar added to dozens of sites around Lethbridge schools

Jan 13, 2025 | 2:06 PM

Drivers in Lethbridge should be careful about speeding near schools and playgrounds.

Effective Monday, January 13, 2025, a total of 42 photo radar sites have been added throughout the city.

Danny Lumness, Sgt. in charge of the Traffic Response Unit for the Lethbridge Police Service, says the number of new sites might appear to be higher than it is.

“There could be one school, but within that one school or playground area, there could also be with the roads surrounding that immediate area, there could be four sites. So for example, a school in the middle could have four roads surrounding that school, and each one of those roads has to be designated as a site,” says Lumness.

The list below shows that there are technically five new photo radar sites added around St. Francis Junior High School, but each covers a single block on different sides of the school.

A total of 42 new sites within playground zones in Lethbridge will be monitored using photo radar. (Photo: Lethbridge Police Service)

Lumness says LPS is not looking to dedicate more police resources towards photo radar and that the machines will be moved between the sites periodically.

The new sites come as the Government of Alberta looks to restrict the use of photo radar to just school, playground and construction zones as of April 1, 2025.

Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen called photo radar ticketing a “cash cow” for local governments, and claim that many Albertans feel it is used more to generate revenues than as a tool for public safety.

That is why the Taber Police Service has fully ended its use of photo radar as of January 1.

The Chief of LPS, Shahin Mehdizadeh, on the other hand, previously told LNN that he feels the reduction in photo radar ticketing will result in more speeding and more collisions.

READ MORE: Alberta ending ‘photo radar cash cow’

READ MORE: Taber ends use of photo radar

READ MORE: New photo radar rules will made roads less safe, says LPS chief