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Photo radar should be used to improve safety, not act as a cash cow for municipalities, says Infrastructure Minister Brian Mason.

To make sure they’re not being misused, the government has launched a review into Alberta’s photo radar guidelines.

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Mason admits he has received a few tickets from photo radar — his reaction is usually “Doh” combined with chiding himself for speeding — but said Thursday he has heard from a lot of groups that decry the use of the much-maligned devices.

Mainly he hears concerns that photo radar has gone beyond its intended role of enforcing traffic safety.

The joint review between the infrastructure and justice ministries will examine policies in other jurisdictions and look at how photo radar sites in Alberta are picked and evaluated.

Mason pointed to Edmonton as a municipality that took over control of photo radar and saw income to the city increase significantly, though Mayor Don Iveson said the devices are placed where there are traffic safety issues.