Offences detected by photo radar devices

When it detects a vehicle speeding or failing to stop at a red light, the device takes photos of the vehicle and its licence plate. There, each photo is analyzed by a peace officer, who verifies whether an offence has actually been committed. If the offence is confirmed, a statement of offence and a fine will be mailed to the offender. 

When it detects a vehicle speeding or failing to stop at a red light, the device takes photos of the vehicle and its licence plate.

It also records:

• the place, date and time of the offence
• the vehicle’s position
• the vehicle’s speed
• the colour of the traffic light

The photos are encrypted to make sure they remain confidential. In addition, the interior of the vehicle is masked in the photographs to respect the privacy of the occupants. 

The photos are sent to the Centre de traitement de la preuve (CTP), which is under the responsibility of the Sûreté du Québec. There, each photo is analyzed by a peace officer, who verifies whether an offence has actually been committed.

If the offence is confirmed, a statement of offence and a fine will be mailed to the offender. 

When you receive a statement of offence, you have 30 days to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.

For more information, go to the Paying a fine page.

The driver of an offending vehicle cannot be identified. Since the only link to be established is between the vehicle and its owner, that person is responsible for the offence.

For more information about the fines you can expect to receive in the event of an offence, refer to the document Speeding – Fines and demerit points from the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).a conductrice.

However, no demerit points will be added to your record, since photo radars allow you to identify the offending vehicle, but not the driver.