Do not lose your rights and freedoms!!!!!

Alberta is getting rid of traffic court as of February 1, 2022.  

Why is that a big deal? Why should you care? You might think: “I’m a careful driver, I obey the rules, this doesn’t affect me.” Well it affects all of us.

We all have a right to a fair trial when we have been accused of an offence.  You are about to lose that right. 

Quoting from a Jan 11, 2022 Calgary Herald article by Rob Breakenridge: As of February 1, “an accused will only have seven days to decide whether to challenge a ticket. The accused will also now have costs to consider: a non-refundable fee of either $50 or $150, depending on whether the fine is above or below $299 (some fines will be increasing under these changes, too).

There would be no option for a reduction in the fine — the decision is all or nothing. And rather than the matter being overseen by a judge, an accused will now have to convince an adjudicator that the ticket should be thrown out.”

The adjudicator is someone hired by the province and does not have the responsibilities of a judge, the adjudicator is an employee of the province and has one purpose, making money for the province. With that in mind, do you really think they are going to give your appeal a fair hearing?  Even if the adjudicator reverses your ticket, you are still paying a non-refundable fee just to have the adjudicator review your appeal. This is a lose-lose situation for everyday Albertans.

That certainly feels like a reversal of the burden of proof that exists in our court system and it also removes the ability to confront one’s accuser — in this case, the officer who issued the ticket.

This is the first step down a long and slippery slope. If we allow the government to suspend our right to stand in front of a judge when we are accused of a traffic violation, what’s next?

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees us the right to be assumed innocent before proven guilty. Not the other way around. In this situation, even if you are found innocent, you are still paying a fine in the form of the non-refundable fee. 

We cannot let this stand! What freedom or right will they take away next, if we allow this?  

Jason Kenneys email is premier@gov.ab.ca. Take 2 minutes out of your day and send him an email! Let him know what you think about this!