Welcome to the nation’s Ottawa’s Photo Radar! While Ottawa is renowned for its scenic waterways, historic architecture, and vibrant communities, it’s also actively working to enhance road safety through modern enforcement—specifically, the expansion of its Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program, commonly known as photo radar.
For the seasoned commuter, the new Ottawa’s Photo Radar, or the occasional visitor, understanding where these cameras and other speed traps are located is vital not just for your wallet, but for the safety of Ottawa’s Community Safety Zones. This definitive guide breaks down everything you need to know about photo radar in Ottawa for 2025, including current locations, the ticket process, and the ongoing political debate that could change the future of the program.
1. What is Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE)?
Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) is a system that uses a camera and a speed measurement device to enforce speed limits. In Ontario, ASE is legally authorized only in Ottawa’s Photo Radar School Zones and Community Safety Zones (CSZ). The goal is simple: to reduce speeding and improve safety for the city’s most vulnerable road users, especially children.
1.1 The “Why” Behind Ottawa’s Photo Radar
The City of Ottawa has consistently shown that the cameras are an effective tool. Data indicates a significant increase in compliance with the posted Ottawa’s Photo Radar limit (from a low of 16% to over 81% after three years in some pilot locations) and a sharp reduction in “high-end speeding” (50+ km/h over the limit). The revenue generated from these tickets is reinvested directly into the city’s Road Safety Action Plan initiatives, such as traffic calming measures.
1.2 Key Difference: ASE vs. Red Light Cameras
It is important not to confuse photo radar (ASE) with red light cameras. While both use automated technology to issue tickets, they enforce different violations:
Photo Radar (ASE): Issues tickets for exceeding the posted speed Ottawa’s Photo Radar.
Red Light Cameras: Issues tickets for running a red light.
Both systems issue the ticket to the registered plate holder, not the driver, and neither results in demerit points (unless the speed is excessive, warranting a summons).
2. Navigating Ottawa’s Current Photo Radar Locations
As of late 2025, the City of Ottawa has approximately 60 operational ASE cameras located throughout the city, primarily concentrated in Community Safety Zones near schools and parks.
2.1 The Busiest Camera Hotspots
While the goal is safety, certain Ottawa’s Photo Radar have proven to be significant sources of tickets, indicating persistent speeding issues. Drivers should exercise extreme caution in these known hotspots:
King Edward Avenue (Between Bolton St and St. Patrick St): Historically one of Ottawa’s busiest cameras for tickets.
King Edward Avenue (Near St. Andrew and Besserer Streets): A consistent hot spot, likely due to traffic flow in the downtown core.
St. Laurent Boulevard (Between Noranda Avenue and Clarke Avenue): A high-volume ticket area in the east end.
2.2 List of Permanent & Active ASE Locations
Ottawa’s ASE cameras are generally permanent once installed, moving only for maintenance or as part of a strategic review. The locations are always clearly marked with required signage. Active zones as of 2025 include, but are not limited to, Ottawa’s Photo Radar Safety Zones near:
Abbeyhill between Aldburn and Sherwood
Alta Vista between Ayers and Ridgemont
Bayshore between Woodridge (north) and Woodridge (south)
Bronson between University and Brewer (near Brewer Park)
Crichton between Vaughan and St. Ottawa’s Photo Radar
First Avenue between Chrysler and Percy (near Glebe Collegiate Institute)
Fisher Avenue between Deer Park and Kintyre Private
Innes between Portobello and Trim
Longfields between Berrigan and Hobblebush
Main Street between Evelyn and Springhurst
Meadowlands between Woodroffe and Ottawa’s Photo Radar
Woodroffe between Anthony and Saville
Pro-Tip: Always check the official City of Ottawa website for the most up-to-date, interactive map of all active Automated Speed Enforcement locations.
3. Planned Photo Radar Expansion and Uncertainty
The City of Ottawa had robust plans to expand its ASE program to further improve safety, but these plans are now in flux due to provincial intervention.
3.1 The 2025 Planned Expansion Locations
Prior to the provincial announcement, the Ottawa’s Photo Radar had announced intentions to install an additional 24 new photo radar cameras in 2025, with construction slated for late summer/fall. These locations are still marked with “Municipal Speed Camera – Coming Soon” signs, which serve as a mandatory 90-day warning before activation. Planned areas include:
Abbott Street East (between Iber Road and Robert Grant Avenue)
Bank Street (from Exhibition Way to Wilton Crescent—near Lansdowne Park)
Conroy Road (from Lorry Greenberg Drive to Hunt Club Road)
Donald Street (from Barnaby Private to Telford Avenue)
Dunrobin Ottawa’s Photo Radar (Village of Dunrobin)
Fisher Avenue (two new segments: between Trent Street and McCooey Lane, and between Meadowlands Drive and Urbisci Private)
Longfields Drive (from Mountshannon Drive to Silver Sage Avenue)
Manotick Main Street (Village of Manotick)
Old Richmond Road (from Sanibel Private to Seyton Drive)
Perth Street (Village of Richmond)
Stonehaven Drive (between Bridlewood Drive and Tamara Way)
Woodridge Crescent (at Bayshore Drive near Bayshore Public School)
Important Note: The activation of these planned cameras is currently uncertain due to the proposed provincial ban on ASE. The City of Ottawa has been instructed to potentially pause or remove the existing “coming soon” signs.
4. Understanding Speed Traps: Beyond the Cameras
While photo radar cameras are predictable, a “speed trap” can also refer to traditional police enforcement. Ottawa Police Ottawa’s Photo Radar(OPS) continues to use mobile radar and laser speed guns in targeted areas.
4.1 How to Spot a Traditional Speed Trap
Unlike the permanent ASE systems, police speed traps are mobile and can be anywhere, but they often follow a pattern:
Downhill Slopes: Gravity encourages speeding, making these spots profitable for enforcement.
Transition Zones: Areas where the speed limit abruptly drops (e.g., entering a rural village or leaving a 80 km/h zone for a 50 km/h residential area).
Unmarked/Hidden Vehicles: Police will often Ottawa’s Photo Radar on side streets, behind overpasses, or in parking lots that offer a clear sightline of traffic without being immediately visible. Look for unusual vehicles parked off the main road.
Construction Zones: Enforcement is often heightened in construction and utility work zones, where fines are often doubled.
Following the Signs: Look for the white, rectangular “Community Safety Zone” signs or the yellow/green five-sided school zone signs. These zones signal a high probability of both automated and traditional police enforcement.
4.2 Other Traffic Calming Measures
Ottawa’s commitment to road safety extends beyond Ottawa’s Photo Radar. You’ll encounter other traffic calming measures that naturally encourage slower speeds:
Speed Humps/Cushions: Raised sections of pavement.
Raised Crossings: Crosswalks that are elevated to the sidewalk level.
Curb Extensions/Bump-Outs: Sidewalks extended into the street at intersections to narrow the roadway and reduce pedestrian crossing distance.
These physical measures are often installed in Ottawa’s Photo Radar with, or as an alternative to, speed cameras to create safer, more livable neighbourhoods.
5. What Happens When You Get an Ottawa Photo Radar Ticket?
Receiving a ticket from an Automated Speed Enforcement camera is different from a ticket issued by a police officer. Knowing the process can save you stress and money.
5.1 The Fine Structure: No Demerit Points
The penalty for an ASE ticket is strictly a monetary fine paid by the vehicle’s registered owner.
No Demerit Points: The ticket does not result in Ottawa’s Photo Radar points on your driver’s licence because the driver cannot be positively identified.
No Insurance Increase: Since there are no demerit points, these tickets do not typically impact your auto insurance rates.
Fine Amount: The fine is calculated based on how far over the limit you were driving, plus a mandatory Victim Fine Surcharge (VFS) and applicable court costs.
5.2 Receiving and Paying the Ticket
The ticket (Offence Notice) will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle within approximately 23 days of the offence. The ticket will include:
A digitized image of the vehicle and licence plate.
The time, date, and location of the offence.
The speed recorded and the posted speed Ottawa’s Photo Radar.
Instructions on how to pay the fine.
The City of Ottawa strongly recommends paying on time to avoid overdue fines and collections. You can pay the fine online, by mail, or in person at a Provincial Offences Court Office.
5.3 Fighting an ASE Ticket
You have the right to request a trial to contest the charge. However, fighting an ASE ticket can be challenging.
Accuracy: The ASE equipment is certified as accurate as traditional speed measurement devices.
Defense: Common defences often revolve around technical issues with the camera system, signage, or the accuracy of the vehicle’s Ottawa’s Photo Radar. Arguments based on the need to speed or not seeing the sign are typically ineffective.
Resolution Meeting: You can request an early resolution meeting with a prosecutor to discuss a potential settlement outside of a trial.
6. The Political Cloud: Proposed Provincial Ban
As of late 2025, the future of Ottawa’s photo radar program is under serious threat due to a pledge by the provincial government to ban the technology across Ontario, labelling it a “municipal cash grab.”
6.1 The City’s Stance
Ottawa City Council, along with a coalition of other Ottawa’s Photo Radar municipalities, has pushed back against the ban, arguing:
Safety First: The cameras are a proven, effective safety tool, particularly in vulnerable school and community zones.
Local Authority: Municipalities should retain the authority to use all tools necessary to manage local road safety.
Data-Driven Results: Ottawa’s data shows a clear increase in speed compliance and a reduction in high-end speeding where cameras are active.
6.2 What This Means for Drivers
The situation is dynamic. While the provincial government has stated its intention to introduce legislation to ban the cameras, until that legislation is passed and enacted, all existing cameras remain operational, and all tickets are still valid and must be Ottawa’s Photo Radar.
Assume Active: The safest course of action is to assume every existing and marked camera is active and drive accordingly.
Stay Informed: Keep an eye on local news for updates on the legislative process, which will determine if Ottawa is forced to remove its photo radar units.
7. Your Ultimate Ottawa Driving Strategy
Avoiding photo radar tickets and ensuring you navigate Ottawa’s roads safely comes down to preparation and simple driving discipline.
7.1 Drive by the Signs, Not the Crowd
The simplest and most effective way to avoid all forms of speeding tickets—automated or police-issued—is to drive the posted speed limit.
Watch for CSZ Signs: Always slow down immediately when you see the “Community Safety Zone” or five-sided school zone sign, regardless of whether you spot the actual camera unit. The zone itself is the enforceable area.
Slow-to-Speeding: Be mindful of the “slow-to-speeding” effect, where you accelerate unintentionally after a stop sign or traffic light. ASE cameras catch this frequently.
Use Technology: GPS apps and community-driven road hazard apps often flag ASE locations and police speed traps. While not foolproof, they can be helpful as an additional warning tool.
Ottawa’s photo radar system is more than a Ottawa’s Photo Radar tool; it’s a critical component of the city’s vision for safer streets. By being informed, aware of the locations, and sticking to the speed limit, you can ensure your drive through the National Capital is smooth, ticket-free, and contributes to the overall safety of the community. Stay safe out there!
