The town of Devon in Alberta, Canada has been ordered to refund 6,800 photo radar tickets issued between April 1 and May 26, 2004.

A court found that an unqualified and untrained technician had been issuing the notices during that period. The Alberta Solicitor General's office shut down the Devon's speed camera program last October after learning of the problem.

The technician in question specifically lacked training on the laser component of the system. "The laser component deals with mathematical calculations to ensure the accuracy of the readings, so ... there is a real issue as to the reliability of the readings," Alberta's Justice Minister Ron Stevens explained.

Key Statistic:
RCMP investigators found the photo radar operator's training did not meet required standards. A Crown prosecutor agreed and a Court of Queen's Bench judge overturned the tickets in a ruling today. Justice Minister Ron Stevens says it's important that Albertans have full confidence in the justice system and that the tools of justice are operated correctly.