Speeding fines (in effect March 13, 2026)
Speeding fines scale with the amount over the posted limit and with the zone. The same number of km/h over costs more in a school, playground, construction, or emergency-responder zone. The demerit value is set by the Traffic Safety Act regulations, independent of the fine schedule.
| Over the limit | Standard fine | Construction / school / playground zone | Demerits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km/h | $88 | $176 | 0 |
| 10 km/h | $144 | $288 | 2 |
| 15 km/h | $181 | $362 | 3 |
| 20 km/h | $228 | $456 | 3 |
| 30 km/h | $329 | $658 | 4 |
| 40 km/h | $467 | $934 | 4 |
| 50 km/h | $744 | $1,488 | 6 |
| 50+ km/h (stunting) | Court-set, minimum $744. Immediate vehicle seizure + 7-day suspension. | 6 | |
Demerit values shown are general guides — the value tied to any specific ticket depends on the section actually charged on the ticket itself.
Other major moving violations
| Offence | Fine | Demerits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Careless driving (s. 115(2)(b)) | $852 | 6 | Mandatory court appearance. Major insurance event. |
| Distracted driving | $390 | 3 | Handheld device, visible screen, personal grooming, reading. |
| Following too closely | $233 | 4 | Common rear-end-collision charge. |
| Failing to stop at a red light (in-person) | $405 | 3 | Different from a red-light camera ticket — see below. |
| Failing to stop at a stop sign | $405 | 3 | In-person enforcement. |
| Improper passing / lane change | $233 | 2 | Includes failing to signal. |
| Failing to yield to a pedestrian | $809 | 4 | Increased in the 2026 schedule. |
| Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle | $809 | 3 | Increased in the 2026 schedule. |
Licence and insurance offences
| Offence | Fine | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Operating without insurance (s. 54, first offence) | Minimum $2,875 | Subsequent convictions within 10 years carry higher minimums. |
| Operating while suspended or disqualified | Minimum $2,875 | Mandatory court appearance. Possible jail on subsequent convictions. |
| Driving without a valid licence | $405 | Distinct from "while suspended." |
| Failure to produce a valid licence on request | $233 | Often resolved on production of the licence. |
Red-light camera (intersection safety device) tickets
Red-light camera tickets — issued by the City’s intersection safety device program — are issued to the registered owner of the vehicle, not the driver. They are treated as non-moving violations: no demerits attach, but the fine is owed.
- Red-light camera ticket: typically $405.
- The image and the timing data are part of the disclosure if the ticket is disputed.
Alberta restricted the provincial photo radar program effective April 1, 2025, limiting it to school, playground, and construction zones, with intersection cameras restricted to red-light enforcement only. Photo radar tickets are not a service Alberta Ticket Fighter currently handles.
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What changed in the March 13, 2026 schedule
The 2026 update was the first comprehensive revision to the Alberta provincial traffic fine schedule since 2019. The headline movers were the most-cited charges in the province:
- Careless driving: $567 → $852
- Distracted driving: $300 → $390
- Speeding 10 km/h over: $110 → $144
- Speeding 50 km/h over: $574 → $744
- Failing to yield to a pedestrian: $575 → $809
Demerit values were not changed in this round. The fine increase applies to tickets issued on or after March 13, 2026 — tickets issued before that date keep the previous schedule.
How Alberta Ticket Fighter helps
We read the ticket against the 2026 schedule, confirm what the driver is actually charged with under the Traffic Safety Act, and explain — in plain numbers — what paying would cost compared to other response paths. Where representation makes sense for the facts, we handle disclosure, resolution discussions, and court appearances.
Questions about the 2026 Alberta fine schedule
When did the new Alberta traffic ticket fines take effect?
The current Alberta traffic ticket fine schedule took effect March 13, 2026. Any ticket issued on or after that date is assessed under the new schedule; tickets issued before that date keep the previous fine values.
How much is a speeding ticket in Alberta in 2026?
Under the schedule that took effect March 13, 2026, the minimum is $88 for 1 km/h over; $144 for 10 km/h over; $228 for 20 km/h over; $467 for 40 km/h over; and $744 for 50 km/h over. Construction zones and emergency-responder scenes double these amounts. Stunting (50+ km/h over) carries the highest fine and an immediate vehicle seizure.
How much is a careless driving ticket in Alberta in 2026?
Careless driving (s. 115(2)(b) of the Traffic Safety Act) carries a fine of $852 under the schedule that took effect March 13, 2026, plus 6 demerit points and a mandatory court appearance. The fine is the smallest part — the insurance impact typically runs into thousands over three to six years.
How much is a distracted driving ticket in Alberta in 2026?
Distracted driving (handheld electronic device, screen visible, personal grooming, and related conduct) carries a fine of $390 plus 3 demerit points under the schedule that took effect March 13, 2026. Most insurers treat distracted driving as a major rating event despite the modest fine.
How much is a no-insurance ticket in Alberta?
A first conviction under s. 54 of the Traffic Safety Act for operating without insurance is among the highest-dollar provincial offences — minimum $2,875, with maximums into the five-figure range. A second or subsequent conviction within 10 years escalates further. This is the category where representation most often pays for itself.
Are the construction-zone and school-zone fines really doubled?
Yes. Speeding in a construction zone with workers present, in a school zone during posted hours, in a playground zone during posted hours, or past an emergency-responder scene doubles the standard speeding fine. The demerit value is unchanged.
Is the fine the worst part of a conviction?
No. For most drivers, the insurance impact dwarfs the fine over time. A single moving conviction can move a driver out of a preferred insurance grid for three to six years — often a multi-thousand-dollar swing — while the ticket itself is a single bill.
Read next
Related resources
Alberta Demerit Points Explained
How the demerit system interacts with these fines — the part Alberta drivers most often miss.
How Traffic Tickets Affect Insurance
Why the fine is rarely the most expensive part of the ticket.
What Happens If You Pay
Paying the ticket and the consequence chain that follows.
The information on this page is general guidance about Alberta traffic ticket matters. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create a solicitor–client or representative–client relationship. Outcomes depend on the facts of each matter. For advice on your specific situation, request a ticket review.