Sask. drivers say poor signage led to thousands in unfair construction zone tickets

A group of Saskatchewan drivers say they've been unfairly charged hundreds of dollars in speeding tickets after driving through a poorly marked construction zone.

Last November the Saskatchewan government was twinning a segment of Highway 6 just south of Regina, meaning the stretch of the road was considered a construction zone. A photo radar system was installed to catch motorists who failed to slow down.

Numerous motorists are now saying the signage was confusing and out of place during a week-long period near the end of that month. They say they didn't realize they were speeding until they began to receive large fines in the mail earlier this year.

"The signage posted at times was very erratic and sporadic, going from 40 kilometres at one part, 500 feet later it would be up to 80 kilometres, 500 feet later it's back down to 60," said Denise Treleaven, who commutes from Milestone, about 50 kilometres south of Regina. She was fined $446.

"You were unclear whether you're still in construction zones, but there will still be the signs that sit on the side of the highway that say 100 kilometres. So they weren't covered up."

Treleavan said she's been in contact with around 150 other people who say they've received tickets from the same time period at the end of November for the same stretch of highway. Some, she said, have received several tickets dated within a few days totalling more than $1,000.

"I'm confused, more than anything," said Treleaven. "When I first got the ticket, I'm like, 'there's no way I was speeding through a construction zone.' And then I see all these other people that are stating the same thing." 

"I was absolutely shocked. I couldn't believe it," said Traci De Jersey, another commuter from Milestone who was fined $482. "There has to be something wrong because not every person that lives in the Milestone area is a speeder.

"I will go to court on the court date. I will send it in not guilty. I would own it if I did it wrong."

In response to an inquiry about the ticketing dispute, the Government of Saskatchewan stated that "photo speed enforcement in Saskatchewan work zones is enforced through cameras that are manned. This means that there is a technician operating the photo radar, ensuring the accuracy of tickets issued."

"The technician is required to ensure proper signage, such as Slow to 60 km/h, or 60 km/h Fines Triple, and that crews and/or equipment are working prior to operation of a photo radar camera in a work zone," it said. 

The motorists can address their concerns through the court process, the government said.

Treleaven said she might contact a lawyer who can represent the group of motorists she's gathered.

For now, she said that she'll plead not guilty to the speeding ticket, which will prompt a discovery action. Through that process, she's hoping to get an official estimate of how many tickets were issued on that stretch of highway over that six-day period, along with a typical average.

De Jersey, who works as a nurse, said she's tried calling numbers provided on the ticket, but has either been rebuffed or gone unanswered. 

"I want someone to put the effort in to work with me to determine what did go wrong," she said. "Absolutely something went wrong and it was not at the hands of every driver that went through that area. Not a chance. The odds of winning the lottery are better than that."