EDITORS NOTE: This article originally appeared on Oakville News on Aug. 27.
Speeders beware. Photo radar is coming to a neighbourhood near you.
The town is mounting "coming soon" signs, to advertise its plan to install speed cameras in 14 designated community safety zones across Oakville.
Those cameras will be installed over the next few months and are expected to start snapping photos and issuing tickets by early December this year.
Local politicians say the program will curb speeding and improve neighbourhood safety.
The cameras will provide consistent enforcement of speed limits while allowing police to focus on critical tasks, says Ward 6 councillor Tom Adams.
"Automated speed enforcement cameras are effective at enforcing speed limits, increasing the awareness of drivers and, most importantly, reducing injuries and fatalities in communities," he said, by email. "I’m looking forward to safer roads."
How does it work?
Through the program – officially known as automated speed enforcement (ASE) – speeding vehicles are photographed, with tickets issued to a vehicle’s owner, regardless of who is driving at the time of the offence.
The penalty is a fine. Demerit points are not deducted, and driving records are not affected.
Tickets will be managed through the town's administrative penalty system, which is already in place for parking and bylaw violations. While they may be appealed through a town-managed process, there is no right to a judicial process.
What will be the cost to speeders?
- $5 per km/h for drivers going 1-19 km/h over the speed limit
- $7.50 per km/h for drivers going 20-29 km/h over the speed limit
- $12 per km/h for drivers going 30-49 km/h over the speed limit
Exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h or more will earn you a special invitation into the court system.
Court costs and a victim fine surcharge may be added to the set fine amount.
Where will the cameras be?
Each of Oakville’s seven wards will have two cameras. The cameras will rotate through areas identified as community safety zones, which are near schools or in other safety-sensitive spots where speeding brings higher community risks.
Oakville’s first 14 ASE locations are:
- Colonel Williams Parkway from Stocksbridge Avenue/Richview Boulevard to Watercliffe Court
- Rebecca Street from Sussex Street to Bronte Road.
- Old Abbey Lane between Montrose Abbey Drive and Milton Road/ Northwood Drive
- Nottinghill Gate from Runnymead Crescent (easterly intersection) to Beechgrove Crescent
- Reynolds Street between Cornwall Road and Sumner Avenue.
- Kingsway Drive from Wynten Way/ Winterbourne Drive to Prince John Circle/ Sir David Drive
- Westoak Trails Boulevard from Brookhaven Crescent/Arbourview Drive to Colbeck Street/ Amberglen Court
- Pine Glen Road between Newcastle Crescent (westerly intersection) and Proudfoot Trail
- Sixth Line from Elm Drive to Upper Middle Road
- River Glen Boulevard from Towne Boulevard to Mowat Avenue
- Glenashton Drive from Eighth Line to Grand Boulevard
- North Ridge Trail between Glenashton Drive and Postridge Drive
- Sixteen Mile Drive from Preserve Drive to Larry Crescent/Isaac Avenue
- Post Road from Dundas Street to Threshing Mill Boulevard
How much will the town earn?
Once the program is fully operational, the town expects ASE speeding tickets will bring about $2.73 million a year into Oakville’s coffers.
But administering the program will cost nearly $2.6 million, making it a very minor revenue source.
Provincial rules govern how communities can introduce automated speed enforcement. The town has to purchase cameras from an approved equipment vendor, plus pay the vendor to operate and relocate the cameras.
Oakville must also participate in a joint processing centre managed by the City of Toronto, which processes all camera images generated across the province.
The provincial Ministry of Transportation will charge the town to access license plate information.
The town is limited to issuing 40,000 tickets per year – or fewer than 3,000 annual tickets per camera.