Safety is what it's all about, and it's why Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin is thrilled the town could become one of the first small Ontario communities to utilize automated speed enforcement (ASE).
"We've been advocating for a long time to make automated speed enforcement more affordable for small and medium-sized municipalities because up to now it's been cost prohibitive except for the largest municipalities," Dollin told Barrie 360.
The mayor says an arm of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), called the Local Authority Services (LAS), took on the task of creating a bulk purchase for medium or small municipalities to be able to have automated speed enforcement.
"They worked with the City of Barrie to be the joint processing centre and worked with Innisfil," says Dollin.
At the last town council meeting in March, staff was directed to sign a letter of intent with LAS to be the first customer.
Dollin says the decision to jump on board came down to safety.
"It's our number one resident concern," says the mayor. "Anytime you ask residents what their number one concern is, and it's safety, and not only for traffic safety and speeds but also pedestrian safety. We want our community to be walkable and safe for everyone, for cyclists, pedestrians and the motoring public."
Toronto is one urban centre in Ontario that has implemented ASE.
"ASE is an automated system that uses a camera and a speed measurement device to detect and capture images of vehicles travelling in excess of the posted speed limit," according to the city's website.
The legislation was changed in 2017, so ASE can only be used in school zones and community safety zones.
The City of Barrie will be the Joint Processing Centre in a deal made with LAS. Data from the ASE cameras will be processed by provincial offence officers and the ticket is mailed - along with the photo - to the registered plate owner of the vehicle within 30 days.
ASE offences do not result in demerit points being issued.
Dollin hopes a number of questions will be flushed out in a staff report that is expected to be presented to council at its next meeting on April 12 including how much money from the tickets Innisfil will pocket, as there will be costs associated with court fees and administration.
"Our number one goal is to keep our community safe."
