Speed Cameras In Canada Face Vandalism Surge

Over the past nine months, the city has noted over 800 incidents targeting the roadside camera, ranging from spray paint over the camera lenses to straight-up chopping them down from their metallic perches. Someone even launched one into a pond.

In the last week alone, 16 more cameras have been damaged, including one that’s been knocked out of service seven times in the last 12 months. Police say they are investigating the spree, but so far, the culprit remains on the loose.

Ontario's Premier, Doug Ford, ever the opportunist to meddle in the Greater Toronto Area municipal politics, is leaning into the people's anger. Speaking at a Toronto Region Board of Trade event, Ford blasted the program as unfair and called for every camera to be removed.

“They should take out those cameras, all of them,” Ford said. “It’s nothing but a tax grab. Drivers going five or 10 kilometers over shouldn’t be nailed with big fines. I’m dead against photo radar.” The automated cameras have collected millions in fines since becoming operational in 2020.

As someone who recently received a ticket in the mail for travelling 6 km/h over the limit around midnight on a Sunday, I can agree.

The Ford government may take legislative action when the Ontario Legislative Assembly returns if cities don’t voluntarily remove the devices.

Safety groups argue that Ford’s stance ignores the cameras’ intended purpose: reducing crashes, injuries, and deaths. City data shows the cameras do reduce vehicle speeds in the zones where they operate—I certainly find myself travelling under the speed limit, just in case.

But larger findings—such as a reduction in pedestrian injuries or fatalities—haven’t become public, leaving both sides with nothing but rhetoric. The City of Toronto chooses where to position the speed cameras based on criteria, including: areas where a collision involved children, collisions where a vulnerable road user was killed or seriously injured, data showing elevated vehicle speeds, students within walking distance, and requests from Police and the public.

South of the border, speed cameras were being used in 14 States and the District of Columbia as of 2018, while to date, at least eight U.S. states have laws banning speed cameras. Earlier this year, San Francisco became the first city in California to turn on speed cameras. Data from both Chicago and Philadelphia indicate that both cities have seen a reduction in speeding, crashes, and fatalities since beginning the program.

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