Ottawa’s red light cameras issue fewest number of tickets in 5 years: Here were the hot spots in 2024

A red light camera is seen in Ottawa in this undated photo.

Ottawa’s red light cameras caught the fewest number of red light runners in five years in 2024, as the city saw a sharp drop in the number of tickets issued.

Newly released statistics show 45,328 tickets were issued through Ottawa’s red light camera program in 2024, down from 56,475 tickets in 2023 and 45,723 tickets in 2022.

It was the fewest number of tickets issued since 2020, when there was less traffic on the roads during the first year of the COVID pandemic. A total of 35,557 tickets were issued by 61 red light cameras in 2020.

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The fine for being caught running a red light by the red light camera is $325. The ticket for running the red light is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle, regardless of who is driving the car at the time of the alleged offence.

The red light district

King Edward Avenue is Ottawa’s red light district, with three of the four busiest cameras for red light camera tickets located on the busy road through Lowertown that connects with the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge.

The camera on King Edward Avenue southbound at St. Patrick Street issued 3,003 tickets for red light running in 2024, down from 4,774 tickets in 2023. The camera on King Edward Avenue northbound at St. Andrew Street issued 1,707 tickets, while the camera on King Edward northbound at Besserer Street caught 1,614 drivers running the red light.

The red light camera on Wellington Street eastbound at Bay Street caught 2,105 drivers running red lights in 2024, down from 2,676 tickets in 2023.

In 2024, July was the busiest month for the red light cameras, with 4,947 tickets issued to drivers. November was the quietest month, with 1,022 tickets issued to drivers for running red lights.

Ottawa currently has 85 red light cameras installed at intersections across the city. Seven red light cameras did not issue any tickets in 2024, with some of the cameras located in construction zones.

Ottawa’s red light camera program issued 2,818 tickets in January 2025

Top 12 cameras for red light camera tickets in Ottawa in 2024

• King Edward Avenue at St. Patrick Street (southbound): 3,003 tickets
• Wellington Street at Bay Street (eastbound): 2,105 tickets
• King Edward Avenue at St. Andrew Street (northbound): 1,707 tickets
• King Edward Avenue at Besserer Street (northbound): 1,614 tickets
• Vanier Parkway at Presland (southbound): 1,451 tickets)
• Kent Street at Arlington (northbound): 1,379 tickets
• Hunt Club Road at Downpatrick/McCarty (eastbound): 1,365 tickets
• Walkley Road at Ryder/Don Reid Drive (westbound): 1,268 tickets
• Catherine Street and O’Connor Street (westbound): 1,248 tickets
• Carling Avenue at Island Park (eastbound) 1,158 tickets
• Hawthorne Avenue/Isabella Street at Queen Elizabeth Driveway (eastbound): 1,092 tickets
• Heron Road west of Bank Street (eastbound): 1,012 tickets