School zone speeders help Winnipeg police net $3M more in photo radar fines

Winnipeg police raked in $3 million more than expected this fall thanks to photo radar catching drivers speeding in school zones.

The Winnipeg Police Service's latest financial report, covering the third quarter of 2015, says almost $12.5 million in photo radar enforcement revenue has been collected so far this year up to Sept. 30, compared to $9.4 million at the same time last year.

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Much of that increased revenue, the report says, comes from the introduction of 30 km/h speed limits near schools across the city in the fall of 2014.

The police service also reported collecting more photo radar money in April.

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However, the latest report says police officials don't expect to see further increases over time.

"These new revenue levels are expected to decrease as drivers adjust their driving habits. School zone enforcement ceases during the summer months of July and August," the report says.

The police report also noted that enforcing speed limits in construction zones, where fines for speeding were doubled in 2014, has been limited "as sites were not conducive to photo enforcement."

Members of the Winnipeg Police Board will review the financial report when they meet on Friday.