WELLINGTON COUNTY – Mapleton Mayor Gregg Davidson wants the county to study the idea of automated speed enforcement (ASE).
At the Jan. 27 Wellington County council meeting, Davidson introduced a notice of motion that, if approved, would direct county staff to conduct a cost/benefit analysis and facilitate discussions with lower tier municipalities on the topic and bring a report to the county’s roads committee.
Davidson pointed out the province has allowed the use of automated speed enforcement since 2017 “to address ongoing issues with speeding in school zones and Community Safety Zones.”
Automated speed enforcement uses a camera and a speed measurement device. If a vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit in an ASE-enforced area, the ASE system captures an image that is stored and reviewed by a provincial offences officer.
The ticket, which contains a digitized copy of the image and an enlargement of the plate portion, is mailed to the registered plate holder. Upon conviction, the only penalty is a fine – no demerit points are applied.
Noting speeding is a major concern of county residents, Davidson stated, “evidence-based research provincially, nationally and internationally indicates that the use of automated speed enforcement reduces the overall speed on affected roadways and therefore has potential to enhance road safety.”
Davidson, a former police officer, noted the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police has called for “the expansion and mandated use” of automated speed enforcement.
Davidson’s notice of motion indicates the cost benefit analysis should consider systems utilizing both permanent camera locations and rotating cameras through community safety and school zones.
It also calls for staff to be directed to lead discussions with Wellington County municipalities “as partners in the local implementation of automated speed enforcement.”
Warden Kelly Linton said the notice of motion would be considered at the next county council meeting on Feb. 24.
