I received a photo radar ticket, which showed that I was driving a speed of 47 km/h in what appears to be a 30-km/h zone 24/7. The street is Deerbourne. My understanding is that this street is always 30 km/h because adjacent to the street on the north side is a park. Being next to a park, whether this is a provincial regulation or city/municipality rule, has a 30 km/h speed limit. I was driving 47 km/h at just after 5 p.m. on a summer Friday evening where all other residential streets, I would have been three km/h under the posted speed limit. I merely was travelling safely for a short night out at a popular local restaurant and supporting St. Albert business.
I have lived in St. Albert for 16 years having moved here from Manitoba in 1999. The countless times I have driven on Deerbourne, I can equivocally say that I have never seen a kid play in that park yet. I can’t even say I have seen an adult walk a dog on the sidewalk. The occasional person walking on the sidewalk, but nothing more than that and absolutely nothing that would endanger a person, whether after 5 p.m. or earlier that the street needs to be 30 km/h. Put another way, the world and society has changed. We place far too many restrictions and unnecessary conditions at places that are either not warranted, obsolete or not keeping with the current times and not enough attention is put to things that residents need for a safe and healthy community. In today’s world, there are no kids that play at parks or school grounds that need a 30 km/h speed limit 24/7, rather they are on Facebook. Twitter. Texting. Gamers. The list goes on. If I'm wrong, then have 30 km/h on all residential streets where I actually see people, young and old.
It is my feeling that the photo radar was placed there for one reason and one reason alone – money! The conditions were completely safe. I remember driving that night and the road and everything around did not merit a 30 km/h.
I am incredibly disappointed with this ticket. I am incredibly disappointed with the tactics of revenue for the city. I simply did nothing wrong.
David A. Taylor, St. Albert
