Your questions about photo enforcement and more, answered.
General questions
According to the data it does. In 2023, there were 22% fewer violations than when photo enforcement began in 2003, and that’s despite increased enforcement and introducing Reduced Speed School Zones in 2014. Photo enforcement reminds drivers to just slow down, and fewer violations means less risk of collisions.
Historical reports are accessible at the Winnipeg Police Service website.
There are many reasons:
Some of these zones have the speed reduction because of a change in the road configuration. Whether a worker is present or not does not make the road any more or less safe.
Construction workers and hydro employees don’t have set hours. While you may feel absolutely sure there isn’t anyone there because you don’t see anyone or because it’s the evening, weekend or a holiday, the reality is, there might be.
By the time that drivers SEE a worker and decide to slow down, it can be too late. Having a limit that is in place all the time slows traffic down to better react when they do come across workers or equipment.
Fines are mailed out within 14 days of the date of the offence. We do not confirm if a fine has or might be issued.
If you want to check after the 14 days, you can contact the Provincial Offences Court at 373 Broadway in Winnipeg (telephone: 204-945-3156 or toll-free: 1-800-282-8069) or any Regional Provincial Court Office. All Provincial Court Offices are open Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (excluding holidays).
Intersection Safety Camera enforcement is lane specific. The system identifies the violating vehicle in the specific lane as it travels over electromagnetic in-ground loops in the road.
Mobile Photo Enforcement fines are issued by a trained and qualified enforcement operator who has observed the violation and made notes.
Unfortunately, no. Provincial legislation requires that the fine be issued to the registered owner of the license plate on the vehicle, as on file with Manitoba Public Insurance, Registrar of Motor Vehicles.
Ultimately, the registered owner is responsible for responding by the date noted on the fine. However, there is an option on the back of the fine where the registered owner can authorize another person to respond on their behalf – but the registered owner remains responsible for the violation and the fines involved.
You can use SpeedWatch! SpeedWatch is an initiative of Manitoba Public Insurance and its community partners (including the City of Winnipeg Traffic Assessment Branch, Manitoba Association of School Superintendents (MASS), Winnipeg Police Service, RCMP, Brandon Police Service and other participating local police agencies).
The program is intended for residential streets with light to medium traffic, where the speed limit is 50 kms per hour. Local volunteers borrow radar-operated speed reader boards that display the posted speed limit and the driver's speed. The equipment is set up in a safe location off the road where drivers can see it, during the days and times when volunteers feel speeding is the worst. Information about how fast drivers are travelling is forwarded to Manitoba Public Insurance for analysis.
To book the SpeedWatch equipment, contact:
SpeedWatch Coordinator
Road Safety Department
Manitoba Public Insurance
Telephone: 204-985-8737; toll-free 1–888–767–7640
Mobile enforcement
Under the current provincial legislation, mobile photo enforcement vehicles can only be used to enforce speeding violations in school, playground and construction zones within the City of Winnipeg.
If one of these zones exists on your street, please call the Contact Centre at 311. You’ll need to leave your contact information so the Photo Enforcement Section can contact you. If one of these zones is not present on your street, please contact your local District Station to request conventional traffic enforcement. We’ll do what we can to help.
Disputes / Challenges / Payments
Once issued, a fine becomes a Provincial Court matter. Contact or attend Provincial Offences Court at 373 Broadway in Winnipeg (telephone: 204-945-3156 or toll-free: 1-800-282-8069), or any Regional Provincial Offences Court. All Provincial Offences Court are open Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (excluding holidays).
Unless there are special circumstances, such as the vehicle being reported stolen at the time of the offence, it would be inappropriate for the Winnipeg Police Service to intervene in any way.