Doubling of speeding fines in construction zones provides windfall for Winnipeg police

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This article was published 06/04/2015 (4198 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg police set a record for photo radar revenues in 2014.

Photo radar revenue was up 25 per cent from 2013, states the WPS 4th quarter financial report, which will be presented to the Winnipeg Police Board on Friday.

The financial report states photo radar revenue reached $14.6 million in 2014, up from $11.6 million in 2013.

The jump in photo radar revenue is attributed to a decision by the provincial government to double the fine for construction ticket violations and to the introduction of school zone enforcement in the fall.

“This generated additional revenue that was not expected and budgeted,” the report states. “This combination of events, plus good winter road conditions, assisted in this speed reduction program (photo radar) having the highest year in revenues since inception.”

The report notes that revenues from traditional enforcement was also up, 12 per cent, as a result of more tickets being issued; $4.45 million in 2014 compared to $3.97 million in 2013.

The additional enforcement revenue will help offset a jump in overall expenses of 5.3 per cent, mostly the result of the retroactive collective agreement impact on salaries and benefits.

The WPS ended 2014 $7.952 million under budget – most of those savings came from not moving into the new police headquarters.

The police are expected to move into their new Smith Street facilities by the end of this year.

Despite the salary increases, over-time costs were 5.76 per cent lower in 2014 than the year before.

The WPS also benefited from the dramatic drop in price at the gas pump. Fuel costs for 2014 were 7.47 per cent under budget.

 

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca