Smile for the camera, though the end result might be a big frown if you are issued with a ticket.
LAS and the City of Barrie have signed off on a deal that will lay the groundwork for the first Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program outside the Greater Toronto/Hamilton area.
The province has permitted the use of speed enforcement cameras in community safety and school zones since 2017.
“One of council’s key priorities is creating a safer community by addressing speeding and aggressive driving,” said Mayor Alex Nuttall. “Along with community policing efforts, speed enforcement cameras are a useful tool to help us keep our pedestrians and drivers safe. We are proud to partner with LAS on this innovative approach to improving public safety.”
Under the agreement with the city, LAS will initially fund two Provincial Offences officers at the City of Barrie who will process speed-camera violations on behalf of municipalities participating in the ASE program. Provincial law requires highway traffic violations, such as speeding, to be issued by the police or by a designated Provincial Offences officer employed by a municipality.
Barrie police issued just over 5,600 speeding tickets last year.
In June 2022, the previous city council voted to move forward with speed enforcement cameras that would be rotated across the city's 10 wards.
The goal is to roll out the cameras later this year.
Monday's announcement according to Michelle Banfield, the city's Director of Development Services, is the first of a couple of agreements that have to be in place before the city can start putting up the cameras and issuing tickets.
Once some of the other agreements have been put in place, the public will start to see signage indicating that speed enforcement is coming as well as when the cameras are being tested.
"Ultimately, there's going to be a minimum 90-days notice before any location would start actually issuing tickets to drivers," said Banfield.
The city has allocated $300,000 for the two cameras.
“Automated speed enforcement has become popular because it works, with studies from across North America showing it reduces speeding and keeps people safer,” said LAS board chair, Gary McNamara. “We are pleased to partner with Barrie and Conduent to offer municipalities an affordable way to make their communities safer.”
