2019 Report Volume 1: Provincial Auditor Reviews Accuracy and Reliability of Saskatchewan's Speed Camera Fines June 6, 2019

Recommendations include refining SGI’s monitoring of rejected violations, among others, to improve its Automated Speed Enforcement Program

Read News Release

REGINA, SK., June 6, 2019: In her 2019 Report – Volume 1, Chapter 11, Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan, Judy Ferguson, found SGI, on behalf of the Auto Fund, does a good job operating the now permanent Automated Speed Enforcement Program under The Traffic Safety Act and related regulations to reduce speed-related collisions.

In Saskatchewan, unsafe speed and aggressive driving not only persist, but also are key causes of collisions. The Program reduces the frequency and severity of collisions by consistently deterring speeding with fines issued from eight speed cameras.

SGI monitors the accuracy and reliability of issued fines. However, it needs to determine whether reasons for not issuing fines for identified violations are consistent with its policies, as well as enforce out-of-province speeding provisions of contracts with all three participating municipal police services (Moose Jaw, Saskatoon and Regina).

“About 44% of photographs taken do not result in fines, despite a speed violation,” said Ferguson.

   At eight camera locations in 2018:
  • 24.2 million vehicles drive by
  • <1% target violation rate
  • 0.45% actual violation rate
  • $3.3 million net fine revenue

In practice, only the RCMP and Moose Jaw police services issued fines  to out-of-province violators (~12,300 fines issued from Moose Jaw camera locations). Regina and Saskatoon police services do not.

“Failing to issue fines to out-of-province registered vehicle owners who violate speed limits results in inequitable treatment of all registered vehicle owners,” notes Ferguson.

Moreover, SGI’s contracts with these three municipal police services require them to assess violations within seven business days from the violation date.

“For 12 of 30 (40%) of fines tested, the applicable municipal police service did not reject or approve the violation within seven business days. One fine took 31 business days for approval,” said Ferguson, “Promptly issuing fines provides an opportunity to impact motorist behaviour sooner and subsequently encourage reduced speeding.”

Overall, SGI’s activities work toward speed reduction and ultimately safer roads. Fines issued from the Program were issued consistent with legislation and to the registered owner of the speeding vehicle.

The full Provincial Auditor’s 2019 Report – Volume 1 is available online at www.auditor.sk.ca.

The Provincial Auditor is an independent officer of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. The Office promotes accountability and better management by providing Legislators and the public with an independent assessment of the government’s use of public resources

                                                                                             –30–

 

For more information, please contact:

April Serink, MA
Communications Specialist
1500–1920 Broad Street
Regina, Saskatchewan  S4P 3V2
Phone: 306.787.6374
Fax: 306.787.6383
serink@auditor.sk.ca or media@auditor.sk.ca
 
Judy Ferguson, FCPA, FCA
Provincial Auditor
1500–1920 Broad Street
Regina, Saskatchewan  S4P 3V2
Phone: 306.787.6372
Fax: 306.787.6383
info@auditor.sk.ca

Additional issues highlighted in the Provincial Auditor’s 2019 Report – Volume 1 include:

  • Chapter 3: Mitigating vendor influence and conflicts of interest at eHealth
  • Chapter 4: Auditing producer returns for non-renewable resources
  • Chapter 6: Alerting the public about imminently dangerous events using SaskAlert
  • Chapter 7: Monitoring opioid prescribing and dispensing practices
  • Chapter 8: Procurement processes at Northern Lights School Division No. 113
  • Chapter 9: Procurement processes at Northlands College
  • Chapter 12: Maintaining Saskatoon and surrounding area health care facilities
  • Chapter 39: Placing Minister’s wards in permanent homes
  • Others from 45 chapters

Accompanying news releases and backgrounder give further details regarding these key topics.

View All News Releases