Former Tory leadership candidate Thomas Lukaszuk is sounding off on photo radar.

The former deputy premier and labour minister took to Twitter last week, sharing his displeasure with the way the traffic enforcement tool is being implemented -- specifically when it pertains to camouflaged photo radar operations.

"That was never the intention. There was supposed to be specific signs because the understanding was that if you camouflage photo radar and a car just rips by, sure it gets ticketed a few months later but in the meantime that car continues to speed and the danger on the road remains," said Lukaszuk, later told the Edmonton Sun.

"When it isn't used that way -- when the operators actually go out of their way to hide that vehicle -- then obviously it is just for revenue-generation."

Initially, Lukaszuk explains, the intent for photo radar was to be assist police in areas where it isn't safe or possible for officers to physically pull a speeding vehicle over to issue a speeding ticket. Photo radar locations were supposed to be signed off on and approved individually before being applied in areas that exhibited a high rate of collisions.

Furthermore, warnings of any photo radar operations were meant to be clearly labelled on the side of roads, giving motorists a chance to slow down. Now, Lukaszuk explains, signage warning of photo radar is permanently placed "generically" across the city.

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson has vehemently thrown his support behind the city's photo radar program, saying if you don't speed, you won't be ticketed.

Lukaszuk says he agrees with Iveson, in part.

"If you're speeding you deserve to be fined. The law is the law. But that's a separate argument," said Lukaszuk.

"My concern is with some of the municipal leaders' justification of it. People don't like when they're being fibbed to so just be honest with them and say, 'look guys, this is bringing us a lot of dough. We are not placing photo radar in areas of concern or high collision, we're simply placing them because you're stupid and you're driving fast and we found a way to make money off that'.

"Be frank and forthcoming and say that's what you're doing because the safety argument simply isn't flying."

trevor.robb@sunmedia.ca

@SunTrevorRobb