MARCH 27, 1996
SECOND PHOTO RADAR LIE EXPOSED!

VANCOUVER -- The provincial government and ICBC say that the public is
firmly in favour of photo radar while Premier Glen Clark freezes ICBC
rates for two years and offers a retroactive rebate.  Clark said Tuesday
in a television interview "Photo radar, I think, is a challenge for
people.  It's not particularly popular."

Premier Clark ordered a two year freeze on ICBC rates along with a
rebate of the 1.5 per cent increase that came into effect on
January 1, 1996.  Clark indicated the freeze was necessary after
listening to middle and working class concerns about ICBC premiums.
He then offered that photo radar is a challenge, admitting it's lack of
popularity.

The addition of photo radar will result in police issuing a total of
1.3 million to 2.0 million speeding tickets in a province of only
2.5 million active drivers.  The police, ICBC, and provincial government
continue to maintain that photo radar will target only the 'high-risk'
or 'excessive' speeder.

SENSE has stated from the beginning that true public support is not
nearly as high as predicted by ICBC-funded and BCAA-funded (a photo
radar supporter) public opinion polls and that support will drop rapidly
as drivers traveling at safe and reasonable speeds receive tickets in
the mail.

Photo radar cameras and fines were originally scheduled to be in
operation on January 1, 1996.  At this time, cameras will not be
issuing fines until July 1, 1996, at the earliest.

SENSE Director of Research Michael Cain said Wednesday: "This is just
another example of government action on photo radar that is a direct
contradiction to what we are told.  If their opinion polls are accurate
and they have the widespread support for photo radar they claim they do,
why does the Premier admit that it is not popular and then attempt to
bribe us?  This is further evidence that the pre-election delay of
photo radar fines is carefully and deliberately planned."