Red-light camera fines could net Ottawa $500K from outside Ontario

Drivers withalicence plate from outside Ontario are no longer anonymous to Ottawa's 34 red light cameras and thatcould lead toan extra $500,000 in ticketingrevenue, thedeputy citytreasurer estimated.

The provincial governmentchanges came into effect Jan. 1, allowingOntariomunicipalities to sendtickets to drivers fromother Canadian provinces and U.S. statesif they are caught on red-light cameras orfailto stop for school buses.

"It's a big win for us,"said deputy citytreasurerWendyStephanson.

She said Ottawa has been pushing for these extra powers for a long time as many Quebec drivers pass through the city daily.

"We're a border town in the sensethat Quebec is right next door," she said.

The city currently brings in about $12 millionannually in fines from provincial offences, including $3.9 million last yearfrom red-light cameras. Five more cameras will be added this year.

Also on Jan.1, the fine for thelate-payment of provincial tickets, including red-light tickets,went up from $20to $40.

Stephanson doesn't expect the city to receive much more revenue from that, though.The fundswill likely go toward offsetting costs of running Provincial Offences Act courts, including costs for justices of the peace, which also went up Jan. 1.