A group of Saskatchewan drivers says they have unfairly charged hundreds of dollars in speed tickets after driving through a poorly marked construction zone.
Last November, the Saskatchewan government was moaning in a segment of highway 6 to the south of Regina, which means that the section of the road was considered a construction zone. A photographic radar system was installed to catch motorists who could not reduce speed.
Numerous motorists now say that the signage was confusing and out of place for a period of one week near the end of that month. They say they did not realize that they were accelerating until they began to receive large fines by mail earlier this year.
“The published signaling was sometimes very erratic and sporadic, 40 kilometers in one part, 500 feet later would be up to 80 kilometers, 500 feet after return to 60,” said Denise Treleaven, who travels from Milestone, about 50 kilometers south of Regina. It was fined $ 446.
“You were not clear if you are still in construction areas, but there will still be the signs that are on the side of the road that say 100 kilometers. Therefore, they were not covered.”
Treleavan said he has been in contact with about 150 people who say they have received tickets for the same period at the end of November for the same section of road. Some, he said, have received several tickets dated a few days for a total of more than $ 1,000.
“I am confused, more than anything,” Treleaven said. “When I get the ticket for the first time, I am like, ‘there is no way that I am accelerating through a construction zone.’ And then I see all these other people who declare the same.”
“I was absolutely surprised. I couldn’t believe it,” said Traci de Jersey, another Milestone traveler who received a fine of $ 482. “There has to be something wrong because not all people living in the area of milestones are more vitory.
“I will go to the Court in the Court’s appointment. I will send it without guilt. I would possess it if I did it wrong.”
In response to a consultation of the ticket dispute, the Saskatchewan government stated that “the application of the photo speed in the work areas of Saskatchewan is applied through crew cameras. This means that there is a technician who operates the photographic radar, ensuring the accuracy of the tickets emitted “
“The technician is required to guarantee adequate signage, as slow up to 60 km/h, or 60 km/h, triple fines, and that crews and/or equipment work before the operation of a photographic radar camera in an area work “,”, “, he said.
Motorists can address their concerns through the judicial process, the government said.
Treleaven said he could contact a lawyer who can represent the group of motorists he has gathered.
For now, he said he will declare himself innocent of the speeding ticket, which will cause a discovery action. Through this process, he hopes to obtain an official estimate of how many tickets were issued in that section of road during that period of six days, along with a typical average.
Jersey, who works as a nurse, said he has tried to call the numbers provided in the ticket, but that he has been rejected or not answered.
“I want someone to strive to work with me to determine what went wrong,” he said. “Absolutely something went wrong and it was not at the hands of each driver who crossed that area. It is not an opportunity. The chances of winning the lottery are better than that.”
