A Cougar Creek resident is raising the issue of signage around Elizabeth Rummel School and accusing the Town’s photo radar contractor of cashing in on the situation.
Dieter Remppel, in a presentation to council, pointed out there are six signs in the neighbourhood indicating a motorist is entering a playground zone and only two for leaving.
That inconsistency aside, he said the entire area as a playground zone is incorrect as part of it is a school zone, which has different hours and requirements for speed restrictions.
After looking into Alberta Transportation guidelines and fighting several photo radar tickets for speeding in a playground zone, Remppel asked the municipality to deal with the inconsistency.
He said school and playground zones that are adjacent to each other are to be designated because they apply to different times of day. He added there is a problem when Global Traffic photo radar enforcing a playground zone speed limits and times in what is actually a school zone.
Remppel said he has seen the contractor as recently as Dec. 13 at 4:15 p.m. enforcing playground zone speed limits after school zone hours. As the contractor was present for his court appearances to challenge his tickets, Remppel said that means the company is aware of the situation and has failed to notify the municipality of the signage problem.
“If you ever needed evidence photo radar by Global Traffic serves one purpose and that is to generate revenue, here is the evidence,” he said.
Remppel, however, went further than just asking for signage to be clarified. He said on several occasions in the past he was denied what he says is his right under the Municipal Government Act to address council by former Chief Administrative Officer Don Kochan and Mayor Ron Casey.
He asked council to initiate prosecution against the former CAO for denying him his statutory right in contravention of the MGA and replace the contract with Global Traffic with a meaningful road safety program.
