Beaumont mulls future of Automated Traffic Enforcement

BEAUMONT -- A decision is yet to be made regarding the future of Automated Traffic Enforcement in the City of Beaumont.

The City says they're mulling the future of ATE due to new provincial regulations which have greatly diminished the overall revenue generated from the program. The new rules -- which officially took effect in December of last year -- prohibit the use of ATE in a number of areas including highways, and limit its use to school zones, playground zones, and construction zones.

Due to the changes, the number of sites where the program can be operated in Beaumont was reduced from 79 to nine.

To address the reduction in revenue, it was recommended in a recent staff report that the program be terminated, and that the city increase staffing levels for their community peace officers to fill the void. However, in a statement provided to the One FM, the City of Beaumont has confirmed that they haven't come up with a final decision as of yet.

In the meantime, the city says they've reached out to service providers to see if there's any feasible way of keeping the program going past its expiration date on March 31st. They note that they remain committed to ensuring the safety of the community and will keep residents informed as to any further developments.

Automated Traffic Enforcement involves the use of photo radar and intersection safety devices to enforce speed and red-light violations. The goal of the program is to improve road safety and reduce collisions.