Calgary police to mail 14,000 photo radar tickets after 6-month delay

If you thought your driving record was spotless, the Calgary Police Service (CPS) says a surprise may be on the way.

CPS has begun mailing nearly 14,000 photo radar tickets following a six-month pause caused largely by the Canada Post labour dispute.

According to police, the mailing suspension began May 16, 2025, at the direction of Alberta’s Solicitor General, who instructed law enforcement agencies across the province not to use Canada Post during the dispute. As a result, all photo radar tickets issued during that period were placed on hold.

Those tickets are now being sent out, each accompanied by an explanation for the delay and information on next steps. Drivers still retain the right to dispute the tickets.

Some tickets were delivered earlier by courier after receiving court approval, but not all met the criteria, which is why many motorists are only now receiving notices months later.

The backlog comes amid sweeping changes to photo radar enforcement across Alberta. In recent years, the provincial government has significantly reduced the use of photo radar, eliminating it on numbered provincial highways and ending “speed-on-green” enforcement at intersections in 2025. Those cameras are now restricted to red-light violations only.

Overall, photo radar deployment has been cut by 70 per cent in 2025. The province has repeatedly criticized the technology, calling it a “cash cow” with little impact on traffic safety.

The reductions have cost the Calgary Police Service more than $28 million in lost revenue. City council approved the use of reserve funds last March to help cover the shortfall, though the final financial impact has not yet been disclosed.

Later in the year, CPS confirmed the return of photo radar at select high-risk locations, including:

• Eastbound and westbound 16 Avenue and 68 Street NE
• Eastbound and westbound Highway 1A at 12 Mile Coulee Road NW
• Eastbound traffic at 16 Avenue and 10 Street NW

Police say the decision was made in collaboration with the province and is focused on reducing severe traffic collisions.

Calgarians with questions can contact the CPS Ticket Control Unit at 403-428-5991 or the Specialized Traffic Enforcement Unit at 403-428-4026.