Ottawa's controversial photo radar cameras officially ceased operations today, marking a significant shift in the city's approach to traffic enforcement. The shutdown affects all automated speed enforcement devices across the Canadian capital.
End of an Era for Automated Enforcement
The photo radar system, which has been snapping images of speeding drivers for years, was deactivated at precisely 7:51 AM EST on November 14, 2025. These cameras have been a fixture on Ottawa's roads, capturing drivers who exceeded posted speed limits and generating thousands of tickets annually.
The decision to shut down the program comes after ongoing debates about the effectiveness and fairness of automated traffic enforcement. While proponents argued the cameras improved road safety, critics questioned whether they served more as revenue generators than genuine safety tools.
Immediate Impact on Ottawa Roads
With the cameras now offline, drivers will notice immediate changes on their daily commutes. The familiar camera housings that once dotted strategic locations throughout the city will remain in place temporarily but are no longer operational.
Ottawa police have confirmed that traditional traffic enforcement by officers will continue, with particular focus on school zones, construction areas, and other high-risk locations where speeding has been a persistent problem.
What This Means for Drivers
The shutdown affects all pending tickets issued before today's deadline. Drivers who received photo radar tickets prior to November 14, 2025, are still required to address them through the normal channels.
However, no new automated speeding tickets will be generated moving forward. Traffic safety advocates have expressed concern that the removal of this enforcement tool could lead to increased speeding, particularly in areas where photo radar cameras had been most active.
The city has not announced plans to replace the photo radar system with alternative automated enforcement technologies, leaving the future of speed monitoring in Ottawa uncertain.
