Ottawa’s photo radar cameras may be a thing of the past, but the bill for all those old tickets hasn’t disappeared along with them. Eight months after the Ontario government ordered municipalities to deactivate speed cameras on roads across the province, the City of Ottawa is still owed roughly $10 million in outstanding fines.
A Slow Wind-Down
The number has been gradually shrinking. Back in February, just three months after the cameras were switched off, the city reported being owed $12.3 million in unpaid photo radar fines. Since then, that total has dropped to around $10 million as drivers continue to settle up on tickets issued before the province’s ban took effect.
At its peak, Ottawa’s automated speed enforcement program was a significant source of both compliance and revenue, with the city’s 60 photo radar cameras and the vehicles they monitored contributing to roughly $80 million in fines paid by drivers before the cameras were required to go dark.
The Busiest Camera in the City
Of all the locations where Ottawa drivers got caught speeding, one stood out from the rest. The camera on King Edward Avenue at Bruyère Street, in the city’s Lowertown neighbourhood, was consistently the busiest in Ottawa, a stretch of road that’s also been home to multiple red light cameras over the years given its steady mix of traffic and pedestrians.
What Happens Now
Even with the cameras gone for good, the fines tied to violations issued before the shutdown remain collectible, meaning drivers with outstanding tickets aren’t off the hook just because the enforcement program itself has ended. As the city continues working through the remaining balance, it’s a reminder that even after a program winds down, its paper trail tends to stick around a little longer.