Transport Quebec have posted signs to alert drivers to the presence of a red light camera or photo radar unit. Transport Quebec have posted signs to alert drivers to the presence of a red light camera or photo radar unit. (CBC)

Photo radar to curb speeding is officially in effect across Quebec, starting Wednesday.

For the past three months, dozens of photo radar units have been up and running but drivers have only been getting warnings, without tickets. That trial period is now over.

Transport Quebec confirmed that photo radar cameras can be activated even if a driver goes barely over the speed limit. But they said provincial police officers will review all cases before a ticket is issued. These reviews will also allow police to look up the owners of out-of-province cars caught speeding on photo radar and issue them tickets as well.

Transport Quebec said they won't issue demerit points along with photo radar tickets at this point because they would need to confirm the driver's identity.

Quebec's photo radar pilot project is expected to run until February 2011. But Transport Quebec has plans to review the program after one year and submit a report to the legislature for study.

Alfredo Munoz, a former police officer, runs a business called SOS Tickets, which helps drivers contest their traffic violations. He said photo radar won't make Quebecers safer drivers.

"I've been working so many years with the police force, that the only way to stop somebody to drive like that or reckless driving or speeding, it would be a police officer. Only a police officer will be able to stop the person from driving as fast," Munoz said.

Munoz predicted the government will use photo radar as a cash cow. Quebec Transport Minister Julie Boulet said revenue will go into the province's highway safety fund.

Transport Quebec says fines will be the same as those issued by police officers. Fines for running a red light are about $150; speeding fines can go as high as $1,200.

Quebec's 15 locations for photo radar and red light cameras

Montreal:

Red light cameras:

  • University Street southbound at Notre-Dame West Street.
  • Ste-Catherine Street eastbound at D'Iberville Street.
  • Décarie Boulevard northbound at Paré Street.

Fixed photo radar units:

  • McDougall Road eastbound between Le Boulevard and Cedar Avenue.
  • Highway 15 southbound near the Atwater Street exit.
  • Notre-Dame Street between De Lorimier and Gonthier avenues.

Montérégie:

Red light camera:

  • Saint-Constant: Highway 132 eastbound at Monchamp Boulevard.

Fixed photo radar units:

  • Boucherville: Highway 20 westbound near Mortagne Boulevard.
  • Pincourt: Highway 20 eastbound at De l'Ile Boulevard.
  • Marieville: Highway 112 between the communities of Richelieu and Sainte-Angèle-de-Monnoir.

Chaudière-Appalaches (Quebec City region):

Red light cameras:

  • Lévis: Président-Kennedy Street (Highway 173) southbound at the intersection of Wilfrid-Carrier Boulevard and Louis-H.-La Fontaine Street.
  • Thetford Mines: Frontenac Boulevard (Route 112) eastbound at Ouellet Boulevard.

Fixed photo radar units:

  • Lévis: Highway 20 westbound near exit to Pierre-Laporte Bridge.
  • Saint-Georges-de-Beauce: Lacroix Boulevard (Highway 173) southbound at 114th Street.
  • Beauceville: Highway 173 between Golf Street and the town limits of Notre-Dame-des-Pins.