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Councillor Steeves
Denies Photo Radar In
Unmanned Construction Zones
A Cash Grab

Two days after the Winnipeg Sun Newspaper broke the story of a decision by Judicial Justice of the Peace Norm Sundstrom. City of Winnipeg Councillor Gord Steeves took to the airwaves to Defend the City's stance on the un-popular practice of issuing Speeding Tickets in Construction Zones when workers are not present.

Gord Steeves Chairman of the City's Protection and Community Services Committee.

While being interviewed on Winnipeg's Information radio (CBC 990am) Steeves related that "The primary reason for reducing speed in construction zones is workers but there are a lot of other reasons why we want people to slow down in construction zones."

He indicated that he was not familiar with the construction zone that was being referred to by the previous guest Rob Atkins (One of the Nine Tickets Dismissed.)and went on to discuss a different construction zone that he did know of, The Bishop Grandin Bridge re-building where traffic was re-routed to travel both directions on what was a one way bridge.

Steeves commented that they were concerned with vehicles over the construction season traveling at 80 kph with only 4-5 feet between them.

"If they hit one of the chevrons or pylons they could flip it up through your front windshield or you could send it helicoptering into the pedestrian walkway right beside the driving part of the bridge."

When asked by Information radio's Marcy Markusa if the City was going to have to re write it' own rules because the City's bylaw said the reduced speed signs have to be covered up when workers are not present, Steeves explained that after due course if they have to re write some rules or change some signage then they would, however he didn't think the city was going to have to to do that.

Then in an attempt to bond with the people who have been ticketed Steeves said,

"Hey listen it's not like I've never gotten a speeding ticket in my life and I understand how frustrating it is but still there are good reasons to slow down through a construction zone even when workers are not present in my opinion."

When asked how he responds to the Claim by Mr. Atkins that it is a cash grab, Steeves retorted, "Well if it's a cash grab then I guess it's a cash grab for every jurisdiction in the world probably." Steeves then went on to explain that he spoke with the contractors at the site and they indicated they were pulling one or two cars out of the site a day because they were going too fast!

Steeves then closed with this bold statement, "I would argue that in fact that it is a much larger safety concern through construction zones then speeding is on just a regular roadway that's been enforced for decades."

Steeves' opinion of the danger of construction zones however does not comply with the Statistics from the Crown owned vehicle insurance company MPI (Manitoba Public Insurance).

The latest Statistics (2007) show that collisions in Construction zones for the Whole Province of Manitoba equaled 44 out of a total overall collisions of 42,250 or 0.1% of collisions recorded for the year!

Nine of the 44 involved injury of some sort and 35 resulted in Property Damage.

In fact 87% of Collisions including 125 fatalities were recorded in the Category of 'No Apparent Contributing Factors' as far as environment or road conditions were concerned.

That, I guess translates into-

Just Regular Roadways that have been Enforced for Decades!

Larry Stefanuik
trafficticketguru.com

Listen to the above interview on CBC's podcast by clicking here.

Visit information radio.

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2 Comments

Wed Apr 01 13:13:40 2009

Bill;

Not a cash grab - On a Friday evening (7:30)as I was driving down Portage Ave.a mobile radar was located in St James Collegiate School Zone. If the radar moves back 200m it is now in a 60 zone. Now if you are going 61 or 62 may not even get a ticket but if you do - Cost $90 but if you are going 62 in the school zone it is now $192. All this on our major street on a friday evening with 1000s of people headed down town to spend money on entertainment etc. in our core. It is a cash grab!

May 14, 2009 9:59am

George;

This is a cash grab I know one thing the next election NDP will not get my vote,time for a change!

The Guru Just remember George, the conservatives have been sitting on the fence for the most part and are reacting now. Where were they when the complaints were coming in?

They are fighting for you now so they can win favor with the voters.

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Councillor Steeves Denies Photo Radar In Unmanned Construction Zones A Cash Grab

Councillor Steeves
Denies Photo Radar In
Unmanned Construction Zones
A Cash Grab