Increase in speeding tickets along Calgary’s Stoney Trail prompts calls for tougher penalties

Calgary’s ring road has attracted speeders — lots of them.

Calgary police handed out an average of 22 tickets each day to speeders on Stoney Trail in the month of January, prompting some in the Calgary Police Commission to call for harsher penalties.

“Are we able to take that vehicle and lock it up for 60 days… like what’s the law?” asked commission vice chair Kelly Ogle at Wednesday’s meeting.

A total of 677 speeding tickets were issued along the 101-kilometre, free-flowing ring road last month. It’s on track to far surpass the number handed out in 2025.

In a city that is struggling to reduce the number of fatal collisions while dealing with the removal of speed-on-green traffic, there are calls for changes to the legislation to curb problem drivers.

One of those possible solutions could allow officers to impound vehicles speeding excessively, which is currently the case in B.C., Saskatchewan, and Ontario.

Currently, Alberta’s legislation only enables officers to write a ticket — and a court summons for those going more than 50 kilometres above the speed limit — before allowing them back on the road.

“And they get back in that car and drive away… like that… I’ll just leave that with the public, but that’s ludicrous.” Ogle said.

Calgary’s chief of police among those asking for tougher penalties.

As for if city hall could bring in a bylaw for increased punishment along those roads, council members who sit on the police commission say that’s something outside of their prerogative.

“I think traffic enforcement might be pushing it too far so I’d say no,” said Coun. Dan McLean.

The commission chair says they will be advocating to the province for an increase penalty.