Photo: CTV/file

The City of West Kelowna will try for a second time to bring back photo radar.

The resolution, introduced by Coun. Rick de Jong, is asking the Union of BC Municipalities to lobby the province in an effort to allow municipalities to reintroduce photo radar as a speed deterrent.

A similar motion two years ago was endorsed by UBCM delegates, but shot down by the province.

De Jong, told council he expects photo radar, if allowed, would be used as a deterrent, not as an enforcement tool.

"This motion is focused on traffic safety. We are talking about residential areas, playgrounds and school zones," he said, "not Highway 97 which is a provincial responsibility."

He said he is frustrated with increasingly higher speeds being clocked in residential areas throughout the city.

"That's what's driving me on this. You go through a school zone, and you feel like people are running you over. You're doing 30, and people behind you are trying to do 60 or 70."

Coun. Doug Findlater, who brought up the issue two years ago, tried to dispel talk the city is simply looking at photo radar as a cash grab.

"I don't want it to be a cash grab, I want it to be an enforcement mechanism," said Findlater

"The goal of this is not cost recovery, it's about getting people to slow down," added de Jong.

He said he would be happy if not a single ticket were written, but it made people think twice before speeding through residential areas.

"If one life is saved with this, it will be worth the cost."

The resolution will go before the UBCM delegation at its annual convention in September.