Alberta Regulation 239/2026, the Pilot Project (Automated Traffic Enforcement) Regulation, establishes a pilot project to evaluate the effects of automated traffic enforcement on traffic safety. Made by the Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors under the Traffic Safety Act.

The regulation restricts automated speed and red-light enforcement to municipalities participating in the pilot project. Participating municipalities must comply with the regulation, their municipal traffic safety plans, and any applicable provincial criteria, specifications, or standards. Automated enforcement cannot replace conventional enforcement involving roadside stops by peace officers.

Speed enforcement is generally permitted only at approved sites within construction or maintenance areas, playground zones, and school zones. Enforcement on provincial highways and numbered highway connectors outside these authorized zones is prohibited unless the Minister grants an exemption. Intersection safety devices cannot be used for automated speed enforcement. Red-light enforcement is also restricted to approved sites and is prohibited at intersections on provincial highways or numbered highway connectors.

The regulation establishes evidence-based requirements for approving enforcement locations. Applications for speed enforcement within authorized zones must include a prescribed site assessment and any additional information requested by the Minister. Applications for sites outside these zones require collision data for the proposed location and five comparable sites. Approval depends on demonstrating that alternative safety measures, such as speed bumps or conventional enforcement, would be ineffective or impractical, and that the proposed site has experienced either a higher rate of collisions causing injury or death during the preceding six months or a higher total number of collisions during the preceding year than comparable sites.

Red-light enforcement applications must include collision information for the proposed intersection and comparable locations. During the preceding three years, the proposed site must have demonstrated a higher rate of collisions causing injury or death, a higher total number of collisions, at least 15 collisions involving property damage, injury, or death, or at least five collisions causing injury or death.

Public transparency is another requirement. Municipalities must publish notice of their participation within the three months preceding commencement and announce the use of automated enforcement at individual sites during the four weeks following commencement. Site notices must include the enforcement assessment and the municipality’s latest annual report. Required signage must appear at major municipal entry points, approved enforcement sites, and the equipment itself.

Alberta (239/2026) October 20, 2026
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and does not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.