What is photo radar really costing?
Taxpayers will probably never know the whole answer… A June 21, 1996, Ministry of Transportation and Highways (MOTH) press release (File No. 182A/96) states: “The following are preliminary cost estimates for photo radar:” • “Costs to date total $12 million, which include direct project costs, such as the ATS Canada expenditure and overhead at MVB and ICBC.” • “The estimated cost in 1996/97 to operate the program under the manual system is $8.6 million. This is comparable with the projected costs for an automated system.” A Ministry of Finance internal “Question and Answer” document for their media relations staff obtained by The Vancouver Sun through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request states: “Total capital and operating costs associated with the Photo-Radar program are anticipated to be $35.4 million in 1996/97. Of this amount, $13.3 million is funded within the Ministry of Attorney General for police and court costs associated with the program. The balance, $22.1 million was bu
