By Mike Anderson
While municipalities across Ontario brace for provincial legislation, expected later this month, that bans speed cameras, also known as Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE), Town staff tabled a report at the October 8 council meeting that provides key data proving the program has been an “effective tool” in reducing motorists’ speeds.
According to the staff report, which provided results for nearly five months, from April 10 to August 31, all five community safety zones, where cameras were installed, saw an average speed reduction of 38 per cent or 14.2 km/hr.
The most significant speed reductions occurred in two of the five community safety zones: Wexford Dr. (Keswick), which saw average speeds drop from nearly 55 km/hr to 40 km/hr, and Station Rd. (Pefferlaw), where average speeds dropped from over 55 km/hr to 40 km/hr.
The report also says compliance with posted speed limits increased, as more motorists became aware of the cameras. There was a sizeable reduction in the number of tickets issued, from 5,000 tickets issued in May to only 1,000 in August, with non-residents accounting for 54 per cent of the tickets in that month. There were also fewer repeat offenders, from a high of 12 per cent in May to less than 2 per cent in August.
However, despite its success, many residents have criticized the program on social media, particularly the Town’s plan to install cameras on streets not near schools, which was seen as a “cash grab.”
There were also concerns that tickets were being issued for speeds less than 10 km/hr over posted limits.
Anger over the speed cameras resulted in several incidents of vandalism. According to a Town spokesperson, two of the five cameras, located on Wexford Dr. and Church St., were vandalized. The vandalism included spray painting, misaligning the camera head, and tampering with the connections and wires. The camera supplier absorbed the cost of the damages; however, the vandalism resulted in a 4 per cent loss of revenue.
According to the report, the Town, between April 10 and August 31, issued 10,695 tickets — more than 70 per day with fines averaging $86.30 including fees — producing $863,214.75 in total revenue.
However, the program is expensive to operate. After fees paid to MTO, including victim fees ($244,400), administration, including utilities ($189,517), and the cost of the cameras, data and processing fees ($327,510), approximately $100,000 was left to help fund improvements to community safety and school zones, and to offset costs for other traffic safety measures previously paid by the tax levy.
During the council meeting, Councillor Lee Dale criticized Premier Doug Ford for stoking misconceptions that speed cameras are a “cash grab.”
“There are not a lot of tools within the municipal toolbox to create the sort of safety advantage that ASE has provided in such a short period,” Dale said. “I am alarmed by the constant use of the word ‘cash grab’ to depict this program.”
“For the province to initiate this and cause costs and confusion and allot staff time to create a program, and to then claw it back and use the municipality as a whipping post is absolutely disappointing and reckless from my perspective.”
Regional Councillor Naomi Davison reiterated her support for ASE in community safety zones but requested that if the program is shut down by provincial legislation, the Town should release the speed threshold that would trigger a ticket being issued.
“Once our program wraps up, we should release the closed session confidential information regarding what the trigger was for a ticket,” Davison said. “There have been a lot of comments made on social media that are not accurate.”
Councillor Dale Genge asked if a letter could be sent to the Premier requesting that speed cameras remain in school zones.
“I’ve been hearing that people don’t like it, but they’d accept it in school zones,” Genge said.
However, Mayor Quirk did not support sending a letter, pointing out that more than 20 Ontario Mayors had already made that request and were turned down.
“The Premier has responded with an emphatic no,” Mayor Quirk said.
The Town had planned to rotate the cameras to five new locations this month: Irene Dr., near Haliburton Dr.; Arlington Dr., near Dresden Ct.; Civic Centre Rd., between Metro Rd. and Lake Dr.; Hedge Rd., near Seward Dr.; and Hadden Rd., south of Black River Rd. However, those plans are on hold pending provincial legislation.
- Keswick Optimist Toy Drive Expected to Serve Over 1,000 Children This Year - November 18, 2025
- A Rainy Night, a Cozy Church, and the Magic of Lynn Miles - November 18, 2025
- New Sutton Cenotaph unveiled before Remembrance Day - November 7, 2025
