Speeding fines totalling $463,065 have been paid to date in the nearly three months since the launch of automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras in Barrie. According to a memo to city councillors, 9,240 vehicles were nabbed for speeding at the two locations where the cameras were posted, with an average ticket fine of $90.
Between Dec. 1, 2023 until Feb. 18, 2024, cameras were located eastbound on Big Bay Point Road near Willow Landing and Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic elementary schools and southbound on Anne Street North near Portage View Public School and École secondaire catholique Nouvelle-Alliance.
During that period, 4,677 speeding tickets were issued on Anne Street North and 4,563 speeding tickets on Big Bay Point Road.
"The cameras in both locations have been successful in achieving significant reductions in speeding in the two initial community safety zone locations when compared to the use of the flashing 40 km/hr beacons," according to the memo from city staff.
The report states that during peak school hours speeds were reduced by 12 km/hr at the Big Bay Point location and 13 km/hr at the Anne Street North location.
"This reduction is compared to speeds during peak school hours when the flashing 40 km/hour beacons were in use," the memo stated.
Under Ontario law, the flashing lights to warn of a 40 km/h zone are not in use at locations where speed cameras are active.
There is a significant difference between the tickets issued and the number of violations recorded.
"Tickets for violations have only been issued if they occurred between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, as this is the prime period when vulnerable members of the community may be impacted by speeding and due to limited available resources to process violations," according to city staff.
The report said the number of tickets issued relate to whether the image captured is of adequate quality to issue a ticket, such as licence plates obscured by weather and/or illegible licence plates.
On Big Bay Point, there were 58,258 speed violations, while on Anne Street North there were 35,674, all recorded between 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
The report said that staffing also impacted the ability to issue tickets. There are two provincial offences officers processing charges related to ASE, with a third officer awaiting approval by the province.
"The current volume of violation images per day and per officer substantially exceeds what the existing resources can process."
A motorist nabbed by the speed camera can expect to receive a ticket similar to the amount if they were issued a ticket by police, but the violation does not include the loss of demerit points or a record on a driver's licence as the ticket is issued to the owner of the vehicle rather than the person behind the wheel.
The ticket is mailed to the registered plate holder at the address on file with the Ontario government and arrives within 30 days after the violation occurs.
Some motorists have decided they will fight the ticket rather than pay up.
The report said there have been 7,577 speed camera charges filed with the courts.
The speed cameras were moved in late February to westbound Ardagh Road in the vicinity of Heritage Baptist Church and northbound Essa Road near Timothy Christian School.
According to the city, there are 27 community safety zones in total that have been identified in Barrie as problem areas where the cameras could be installed. This is based on data collected showing areas where drivers are regularly going over the posted limit.
A community safety zone is an area designated through the Community Safety Zones By-law passed by council to identify it as a road segment of higher risk or concern. Certain Highway Traffic Act fines (including speeding) are doubled in community safety zones and many community safety zones are located close to schools.
Banner image: - File Photo (Barrie 360) Speed camera notification on Big Bay Point Road
