Photo radar operator escapes injury after targeted attack

Police are investigating what might be a string of attacks on photo radar vehicles.

There have been three separate incidents in Edmonton over the last week involving the vehicles, the most recent happened Monday night.

Police say they are grateful that the radar operator in that case wasn't seriously injured.

Several rocks were thrown at a photo radar vehicle, and then a large rock was lobbed at the windshield.

Fortunately, the windshield didn't break.

However, police are taking the incident very seriously.

"If the culprits are located, they'd be looking at a minimum of a mischief charge." Cst. Steve Levesque of the EPS Traffic Section said Wednesday. "They could also be looking at an assault with a weapon charge, and these carry significant penalties."

Cst. Levesque went on to say the culprits could even face jail time if convicted.

Radar vehicles in Edmonton are strategically placed by a team of analysts.

The analysts determine where in the city there are most likely to be speeders.

There is also a system in place where residents can file complaints about speeders in their area.

A community van is sent out to examine the situation before an unmarked photo radar vehicle is deployed to help curb the problem.

There are 10 photo radar vehicles stationed throughout the city at any given time.

This is not the first time the photo radar vehicles have been targeted in Edmonton.

Five years ago police investigated a string of serious incidents.