Toronto photo radar ticketing to begin on July 6
TORONTO, ON., June 25, 2020 — Today, Mayor John Tory announced today that the City’s Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program will begin issuing tickets to speeding drivers on Monday, July 6.
The City says the aim of Automated Speed Enforcement is to increase road safety, reduce speeding and raise public awareness about the need to slow down and obey posted speed limits.
There are 50 cameras installed city-wide on local, collector and arterial roads in Community Safety Zones near schools. Each ward has two ASE cameras that will capture and record images of vehicles travelling in excess of the posted speed limit. Signage is installed in advance of all ASE locations so that motorists are aware of their presence.
If a vehicle is detected travelling in excess of the posted speed limit in an ASE-enforced area, the registered owner of the vehicle will receive a ticket regardless of who was driving.
“We have fought long and hard for the provincial permission and regulations to be able to use this technology to help protect pedestrians and crack down on speeding in our neighbourhoods,” said Mayor John Tory. Automated Speed Enforcement is one example of the data-driven actions we are taking to achieve our Vision Zero road safety goals. This is about making our roads safer and saving lives. I’m confident the program will help slow drivers down in zones where children and older adults are likely to travel,” said Tory.
The total payable fine amount includes a set fine, which is determined by Schedule D under the Provincial Offences Act, a proportional victim fine surcharge and applicable court costs. Offenders are only fined – demerit points will not be applied.
An individual caught speeding between 1 and 19 km/h over the posted speed limit will receive a set fine of $5 per kilometre. If travelling between 20 and 29 km/h over the posted speed limit, the set fine will be $7.50 per kilometre. For anything between 30 and 49 km/h over the limit, the set fine will be $12 per kilometre.
For example, if a vehicle is detected speeding 49 km/h over the posted speed limit, the total payable fine amount would be $718. This includes a set fine of $588, a victim surcharge of $125 and $5 in applicable court costs.
Speeds of 50 km/h or more over the posted speed limit will not be eligible for settlement outside of court. A summons will be issued to the registered vehicle owner to appear before a Justice of the Peace.
ASE camera locations are selected based on data that indicate where speed and collisions have been a problem in Community Safety Zones near schools. Additional selection considerations included planned road work, speed limits changes, obstructions or impediments to the equipment, boulevard space and the nature of the road (ex. sharp curves or steep hills).
City Council has endorsed using speed cameras to help enforce the rules of the road and keep residents safe. The Government of Ontario approved regulations to allow municipalities to operate automated speed enforcement programs in December 2019. Cameras were installed at 50 locations shortly after the approval was granted and the City began sending warning letters to drivers during the 90-day pre-ticketing period. Ticketing was scheduled to start, as per the provincial regulations, in April but was delayed due to the COVID-19 shutdown.
Just in February and March before the temporary suspension of the program, Transportation Services staff issued more than 25,000 warning letters to drivers.
Between January 27 and June 18, extremely high speeds were detected at the following nine ASE locations:ASE Location School Ward Posted Speed Limit (km/h) Highest Detected Speed (km/h) Total (km/h) Over Speed Limit Total # Of Speeding Incidents Per Site Royalcrest Rd. Monsignor John Corrigan Catholic Elementary School 1 40 143 103 20,451 Renforth Dr. Hollycrest Middle School, Michael Power High School 2 40 152 112 25,551 Horner Ave. Sir Adam Beck Jr School 3 40 121 81 6,384 Jameson Ave. Parkdale Collegiate Institute 4 40 163 123 9,127 Caledonia Rd. F H Miller Junior Public School 9 40 107 67 37,437 Birchmount Rd. Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Elementary School 20 40 102 62 11,969 Brimorton Dr. St Andrews Public School 21 40 108 68 7,918 Silver Springs Blvd. Lynnwood Heights Junior Public School 22 30 111 81 11,959 Military Trail Saint John Paul II Catholic Secondary School 24 40 106 66 11,935 142,731
More information on the City’s Automated Speed Enforcement program and a map of all locations is available at toronto.ca/ASE.
Residents with program-specific complaints, comments or questions should call 311 or email 311@toronto.ca. Ticket holders should refer to the information on their ticket or visit the City of Toronto’s COVID-19 webpage for updates on Court Services’ available online options at toronto.ca/COVID19.
