Do BC Intersection Camera Tickets Add Penalty Points?

Question: If an Intersection Safety Camera ticket is sent to the vehicle's owner, do they get penalty points on their licence? I found a web post that says you only get penalty points if you were caught by a police officer. Is that true?

Answer: No. If the registered owner receives an Intersection Safety Camera ticket in British Columbia for running a red light or speeding through a monitored intersection, paying the ticket or being convicted of the offence does not result in driver penalty points because the driver has not been identified. Unlike a violation ticket issued by a police officer who identifies the driver, an Intersection Safety Camera ticket is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle.

Driver Nomination Is No Longer Available

When British Columbia expanded the Intersection Safety Camera Program, the ability of the registered owner to nominate the driver was removed. Since September 1, 2018, the registered owner has been responsible for the ticket and can no longer transfer liability to the person who was driving.

No Driver Penalty Points

If the registered owner pays the ticket or is found guilty in court, no driver penalty points are assessed because the driver has not been identified. The ticket is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle rather than to an identified driver.

Intersection Safety Camera Statistics (2025)

These figures show that automated enforcement continues to detect a significant number of red-light and speeding violations at monitored intersections across British Columbia.

Due Diligence for Company Vehicles

Businesses that receive an Intersection Safety Camera ticket may be able to rely on the legal defence of due diligence. This defence is generally available only where the registered owner can demonstrate that reasonable steps were taken to prevent the offence from occurring.

The defence of due diligence recognizes that a business cannot supervise every driver every moment they are behind the wheel. If a company can demonstrate that it took all reasonable steps to prevent speeding and red-light violations, it may ask the Intersection Safety Camera Program to consider withdrawing the ticket.

Supporting information may include:

• Evidence that drivers were carefully selected and expected to operate company vehicles responsibly and lawfully.
• Documentation showing a good-faith effort to ensure compliance with traffic laws.
• A driver's history demonstrating responsible driving behaviour.
• A written policy prohibiting speeding and red light violations.
• A written policy emphasizing the seriousness of these offences.
• A progressive disciplinary process, such as verbal warnings, written reprimands, or loss of driving privileges or employment.
• A policy prohibiting employees from allowing unauthorized people to drive company vehicles.
• Records identifying who was operating the vehicle at the time of the offence.

Establishing due diligence may be more difficult for a parent who allows a teenager to use the family vehicle or someone who occasionally lends a vehicle to a visiting friend or family member.

A Different Approach in Australia

British Columbia places responsibility for an Intersection Safety Camera ticket on the registered owner without requiring identification of the driver. In contrast, New South Wales, Australia, imposes significant penalties on companies that fail to nominate the driver responsible for certain automated enforcement offences. The intent is to encourage identification of the actual driver rather than leaving responsibility solely with the registered owner.

Are Intersection Safety Cameras Just a Tax Grab?

One of the most common criticisms of Intersection Safety Cameras is that they are simply a tax grab because the registered owner pays the fine without receiving driver penalty points. Supporters of the program argue that automated enforcement reduces red-light running and excessive speeding at high-risk intersections, even when the driver cannot be identified.

Whether the current system is effective is open to debate. My concern is that if a driver repeatedly runs red lights or speeds through camera-equipped intersections, paying a fine without any impact on their driving record may do little to change the behaviour. If the objective is safer drivers rather than simply collecting fines, identifying the driver and holding them personally accountable would seem to be the better approach.

Learn More

• Speed on Green Intersection Safety Cameras
• The Effectiveness of Speed Cameras
• Never Loan Your Vehicle to Anyone
• ICBC: Intersection Safety Camera Program

Explore our other DriveSmartBC articles to better understand automated enforcement and traffic laws in British Columbia.