Photo radar brings in record $100 million for Quebec in 2024

It was a lucrative year for photo radar in the province. According to numbers compiled by Le Soleil, the cameras caught a lot of drivers breaking the rules of the road. More than 523,000 tickets were issued for a total of $100 million.

"Just proves that people are not adopting safe driving behavior and that those radars are needed to educate people," David Marcille, spokesperson with CAA Quebec, said.

The top 3 locations that brought the most money were at the north and south end of the La Fontaine Tunnel. Those cameras tallied $22 million in fines. In third place was the camera on Highway 20 in Sainte-Julie.

Despite some drivers believing photo radar is a cash grab for the province, traffic analyst Rick Leckner does not agree.

"There is sufficient signage, to warn people of the upcoming cameras," Leckner said.

He says even though photo radar does not issue demerit points, it is a good deterrent.

"I think you're going to think twice the next time I really do," Leckner said. "A lot of people, despite the signs, the numbers speak for themselves. They're not hiding these photo radars. They're at least 2 or 3 signs prior to each camera."

CAA Quebec says photo radars cannot replace police officers and should be used strategically like in areas where officers cannot safely pull people over.

"The tunnel is a really great example of that," Marcille said. "It's impossible to stop there, when you're being pulled over the lanes [are] not wide at all. There's a lot of traffic as well."