The pic does seem to be cropped.... but I guess I will pay it. Being from BC it will cost me more in fuel and hotel rooms than the 103 bucks. Unless they can send me a larger full screen pic and do this all by mail!

 

You're right there. By the time you get to whichever office issued the ticket and deal with it, you are into it for more than the fine. In your case anyways. And then you may be responsible for the fine anyways.

Since they don't attach any demerits anymore on the photo radar, it is not worth your time and money to chase this one down. If it were a local fine, then it would be worth it.

I happen to know, through an old connection, that when Calgary first got photo radar, if you were going 254 km/h the camera wasn't fast enough to catch you in its frame. I used to have a photocopy of the image, but over the years it has disappeared. The speed, time, date, etc all showed, but there was no vehicle in the image. The guy who was in the van said that it was a motor bike that scared the crap out of him. The new ones might be better, not sure - I haven't got anything fast enough to test it.

 

Swamp, if this sends any comfort your way, I got a photo radar picture from Whitecourt as well. I just gonna charge a few extra dollars to my invoice to cover it. Welcome to Alberta, buddy. Come back again, we need the cash??? I think that my picture was just by the bridge coming into town. Cash cow spot. Those photo radar thingys are all over the place here in C town.

 

Hi everyone! Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I received in the mail today a photo radar ticket for going 66km/hr westbound on Memorial Drive by the CBC building (about 100m before the speed limit changes to 70km/hr)

I distinctly remember seeing the flash go off as a silver audi passed by me in the right lane. The photo is very dark, zoomed in, and the entire right lane (where the Audi would be) is cropped out of the picture.

I have read in this thread that I can go downtown to ask to see the original photo and hopefully they will be able to also show a zoomed out photo. What if they refuse to show a zoomed out photo or claim the picture is already zoomed out? Assuming they show a zoomed out photo, will they print a new photo for me that I can use in court, or are they authorized to throw out the ticket on the spot?

Any help, suggestions or guidance is appreciated.

Thanks!

B.

 

A friend of mine got a photo radar ticket. So he took a photo of the money for the ticket and sent it in. About 2 wks later his ticket showed up in the mail with another photo of hand cuffs.
He paid it.

 

I didnt think police had a sense of humour. And you've gotta watch memorial now, ive seen a few vans parked on that side street taking photos.

 

Of course they're parked there- it makes them a TON of money!

But I wasn't the vehicle speeding, the car next to me was- I just need to know how to get a hold of the original zoomed out photo.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Audi got a same ticket in the mail, except his picture would be cropped off at the left.....

 

Watch in front of SAIT at 16 AVE and 10ST NW,eastbound---SPEED ON GREEN TOO,its like a "strobe light" at 3:00-4:00AM when i 'm burning around doing my calls.It is a 50KPH zone and a police friend says it nails 2000 speeders a month----CHA CHING.-----PS ever notice when they rip apart/repair an intersection with the camera,they remove the photo radar to do the work it is the first thing to be reinstalled/activated---usually before the "Asphalt" cools---my rantDW

 

When I lived in Calgary I remember when the cop would park the van under the bridge for 64th on Deerfoot. I watched him park and go up the hill to the Canadian Tire up there. It got called in.

Anyone remember when the cops were doing radar at the top of the west bound 16th ave off of Deerfoot? I read about someone coming by when the cops were busy writing tickets and taking the gun off its tri pod with a hockey stick or bat.

Memorial has always been a trap and thats where my buddy got his photo ticket.

 

The photos used to be available for viewing at the cop shop along the LRT tracks by city hall just east of Rocky Mountain Plaza. However, when they opened up the new Courthouse on 6th Ave and 6th St Sw I think they may have moved the pictures there. It's been awhile (touch wood and thanks to the detector) since I have gotten one. Give the photo radar inquiry police line a call (403.206.5991) and they will let you know where to view the picture.

I have done it more times than I would like to have had to (wife has a heavy foot and blinders, refuses to use a detector). Never ever ever had any issues with them when I asked to see the picture. Actually found them to be very helpful. The clerk or officer at the counter brings up the picture and can zoom it in and out. If you see anything that is questionable (ie an Audi) tell them the story. Rule of thumb,... innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. They know that. typically what happens is they tell you they will withdraw the ticket. Get the name of the person you talk to in case they dont and you have to go to court. But in my experience, if they say they are pulling it they always did. On one occassion they said the officer in charge would call to discuss. He did. Issue was one number in the plate was blurry. they could adjust focus to show the blurry number but the rest would go blurry. He called to ask if it was my vehicle. I wasnt sure, would need to see a picture with the full plate in it. Lots of Dodge vehicles out there. He dropped it.

I think they get enough revenues to be very reasonable in not tying up court time if there is any doubt. If it doesnt cost you anything, always have a look. if EVERYONE fought EVERY ticket, or at least opted to plead guilty in person, the courts would be overwhelmed.

 

So much for that theory....

I went downtown to view the "original" photo and the lady at the front was very condescending and rude and claimed they cannot zoom out on the photos- they are already zoomed out all the way. That's BS because the image of my entire car is very much zoomed in - you can only see about 2 feet in front and 2 feet in back of my car in the left westbound lane. The van would have to be parked right in the right lane on Memorial for the photo not to be zoomed and cropped. I was getting nowhere and wasting a lot of time arguing but I did get the number of Mike M at the North traffic office by deerfoot mall. He wasn't much better- also rude and condescending. At first he claimed they only targeted the left lane of traffic and that is why it was zoomed in!!!
When I proceeded to tell him I stopped and watched after I saw the flash and mentioned seeing several vehicles photoed in the right lane, and some much further ahead than my vehicle, he retracted.
Interestingly, he was able to confirm that a silver Audi had passed by the camera 0.17 seconds sooner in the right lane, and said something about him getting a ticket too, but then quickly said that I would be unable to obtain that data (I should have recorded the call). He also claimed that the radar (Ka horn) and camera combo can easily distinguish between cars that close (1 car length apart) and issue 2 tickets. I know only 1 flash went off! I'm sure the peace officer saw 2 cars in the image, cropped the photos and issued tickets to us both!!! The right thing to do would be throw it out, but no...

Now that the city makes 100's of millions of dollars a year off these things, they seem to do everything in their power to belittle and inconvenience the average person from fighting them. Absolute power corrupts absolutely!

Anyhow, I was told that there is no original zoomed out photo except for the same as the one I was issued in the mail. I'm sure that's not true but I'm at a loss now as to where to try to track that down. Mike also said there was no way for me to obtain the data he had about the silver audi, he said I would just have to go to court to argue with the officer based on the photo I have.

What a crock!

Rant off.

One final comment: The ticket was for 8PM on April 27th and it was still very bright out. The mailed photo is so dark it's almost completely black and even the original is so dark you can only make out my reflective plate. The entire scenery around my car is completely dark too so I can't make out anything. This fact alone seems suspect...

 

That blows. Really sorry to hear how much things have changed.

However, if it were me I would be off to court to fight.
Make notes of the conversation you just had.

Advise the prosecutor in writing that you are requesting the original photo to be presented at court and you will want records and photos of any pictures taken 30 seconds before and after yours to be available at the trial. You will also be asking the prosecutor to have the officer provide certification the camera was properly calebrated and proof that the camera is able to distinguish between 2 vehicles and issue 2 tickets. You should try to research that yourself to be sure.

You may have to make an appearance, but I think a Judge may have a differing opinion. I am not a lawyer, but from what you are saying it sounds like you should have a fair shot at it.

Sounds like the new mantra is revenue revenue revenue, Things have changed...

 

To the OP I'll offer this advice as this is the procedure here in Alabama. Your laws will be different. Here, when a ticket is issued you may pay the ticket or you may request a trial in City court. The case will be decided by the City Judge. Should you lose your case in City Court you may post an appeal bond and have your case heard in County Court in front of a jury. You may also chose to skip the trial in City Court by Stipulating to the facts and go straight to the jury trial in County Court.

Now, at any trial you have the right to subpoena any evidence the City possesses that is pertinent to your case. This evidence would include the original and any cropped or altered photos AND the maintenance and calibration logs for the camera and radar unit that snapped your fast photo. There should be some statute that specifies how often the radar has to be calibrated and it's up to you to know the law if you're going to argue your case. For what it's worth, I would need someone who is extremely informed to explain to me how a radar unit, with one transmitter and one receiver, assuming that's what we're dealing with since it has to be aimed at a lane, can tell the difference between two different cars, traveling at different speeds, in close proximity to each other.

 

Thanks everyone for the very useful advice. I will have my work cut out for me on this one!
One other thing: I'll have to go back and check, but I believe the van was parked facing the wrong way on the wrong side of the road on a parallel 2-way side street. Are they allowed to park illegally to target speeders? Seems ironic and quite the contradiction!