Councillor wants to see more automated speed enforcement cameras

A regional councillor will present a notice of motion this week that asks the province to allow the Region of Waterloo to install Automatic Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras on any road in the region. 

Kitchener councillor, Rob Deutschmann wants to see the region be in full control of where these systems can go to calm dangerous speeding, creating what he calls, "safer roads." 

"In the top five issues in every election is always speeding," Deutschmann said. "People bring it up more than property taxes, so it is an important issue that needs to be addressed." 

Currently, the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) states that ASE systems may only be placed in designated community safety zones and school safety zones. The Kitchener councillor wants to see the power go back to the municipality and be able to stop speeders in a way they see fit.

The motion, if passed would request the province amend the HTA to "permit municipalities to locate an ASE system permanently or temporarily on any roadway under the jurisdiction of municipalities and as determined by municipalities."

This would mean that any street or roadway with the proper signage would be able to have an automated camera set up to automatically issue drivers tickets if they are caught going over the speed limit. 

The cameras are currently processing thousands of traffic tickets at each site. With the last expansion bringing cameras to three locations in Cambridge, the total cost for the program is around $700,000. 

In a nine month period in 2022, over 5,000 tickets were sent out from 16 camera locations resulting in over $180,000 in fines. 

Despite the proposal for an increase of eligible roads that the ASE systems can be placed on, this wouldn't necessarily translate to more cameras. 

Deutschmann said, despite there being over 30 locations approved for ASE, the region rotates two cameras across the entire region. 

"We wouldn't be putting cameras everywhere right away, we need a better system to be able to handle all of the tickets being sent out," he added. "We are currently having issues with the system we have now with so few cameras."

Cambridge regional councillor Pam Wolf isn't sold on the idea just yet and would need to hear more from the debate when the motion is tabled next month.

"I would have to hear all the arguments before I can say whether I would support Rob’s motion," said Wolf.

She also points to the cost and limited judicial system to handle the amount of tickets that would likely come in from an increased presence of the ASE cameras. 

"Staff is trying to install speed cameras in front of schools where speed is a problem and in community safety zones," added Wolf. "If we have no criteria for installing a speed camera, we will make it very difficult for staff to say no to installing a camera when it is requested."

According to Wolf, there are already measures the region can take to provide site specific exemption if the need is proven to council. 

"I look to hearing council’s debate on this subject," said Wolf.