City of Calgary paid nearly $120,000 in traffic fines for fleet vehicles since 2023

Taxpayers have covered nearly $120,000 in traffic fines for city fleet vehicles since Calgary shifted its policy in 2023, according to data obtained by CBC News.

The change came in April 2023 when the city agreed to pay routine on-duty traffic fines issued to employees operating city vehicles or equipment, following a grievance and union arbitration settlement. The decision aligned Calgary's practice with Edmonton's policy.

"Since April 2023, the city has paid routine on-duty traffic fines issued to employees operating city vehicles or equipment, consistent with grievance and union arbitration settlements adopted by other Alberta municipalities," said Christy Schaefer, manager of fleet training and compliance for the city.

The policy does not apply to gross negligence, impaired driving, dangerous driving, distracted driving, or Criminal Code offences. Parking infractions incurred at private lots are also covered — the city estimates this averages three to four cases annually.

Tickets issued to Calgary fleet vehicles dropped significantly: 96 in 2025 compared to 189 in 2024. The majority were for speeding or running a red light. By comparison, Calgary Police reported issuing roughly 210,000 traffic tickets overall in 2024, falling to just under 100,000 in 2025.

Ward 13 Councillor Dan McLean expressed concern about the shift. "What's concerning is not so much that they're getting the tickets, it's who's paying for them?" he said. "Taxpayers shouldn't be paying for somebody else's parking ticket or speeding ticket."

Mike Maher, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 583 in Calgary, suggested tight transit schedules may contribute to violations. "The schedules on some routes are extremely tight," he said. "If the schedules were more realistic, I believe that people wouldn't be as stressed in trying to maintain them."

The city operates the largest fleet in Alberta, consisting of roughly 6,000 vehicles travelling over 90 million kilometres annually. A city spokesperson said the ticket numbers do not indicate a broader safety concern.