By Mike Anderson

The Town of Georgina is gearing up to install speed cameras in community safety zones across the municipality.

On June 19, council approved staff recommendations that would allow the first speed cameras to operate by December 2024, with warning signs posted 90 days in advance.

Council also requested York Region establish a community safety zone in Belhaven, making it eligible for a speed camera.

A follow-up staff report, which will be tabled in the fall of 2024, will outline final details, including the number of speed cameras, possible locations, and a communications plan.

According to provincial legislation, speed cameras, or Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE), can only be introduced in Community Safety and School Zones.

Still, last year, council endorsed the City of Cambridge’s request to MTO to allow speed cameras anywhere in a municipality, not just in community safety zones.

However, Regional Councillor Naomi Davison said she isn’t ready to support the expanded use of speed cameras.

“I don’t think the idea of getting into your vehicle and potentially getting any number of tickets between one destination and another because there are speed cameras on every road in the municipality is going to be palatable,” Davison said.

“That’s not what we are suggesting here. We’re looking to impact those community safety zones and ensure that members of the public are well informed that these zones exist.”

“Compliance is the goal. Any monies we collect are from people who choose not to follow the rules, read the signs, and be safe in our community.”

Speed camera fines, set by Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, are calculated based on the number of kilometres a vehicle travels over the posted speed limit:

  • $5 per km if you are 1 to 19 km/h over, and $7.50 per km if you are 20 to 29 km/h over.
  • 30 to 49 km/h over is $12 per km, and 50 km/h or more is $19.50 per km.

The total fine will include a victim component fee and a License Plate search fee.

While a fine can be legally triggered by going 1 km/h over the speed limit, council will set the rate of speed a ticket will be issued.

Tickets will be mailed to registered plate owners. They can either pay the fine or challenge the ticket during a virtual hearing, as they can no longer be disputed in court. If they cannot participate virtually, an in-person hearing will be held in Georgina.

According to the province, motorists will not lose demerit points, and insurance rates will not be impacted.

The Town says the ASE program is designed for 100 percent cost recovery and so will have no budgetary impact.

The Town is also partnering with the Town of Newmarket to roll out speed cameras faster and amortize costs.

Georgina will use Newmarket’s ASE processing centre, purchase cameras from its supplier, and use the municipality’s Hearing Officers to adjudicate appeals.

According to the staff report, speed cameras have significantly improved safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists by reducing vehicle speeds. But the report provided no data to back up this claim.

However, according to the Ontario Traffic Council website, Quebec reported that its ASE program reduced average speeds by 13.3 km/h and crashes by 15 to 42 percent at ASE sites in 2016.

Mike Anderson
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