City’s First Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras Now Active

Mississauga’s Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras start enforcing the speed limit today. Cameras are now active in the City’s first two ASE locations:

• Ward 5: Morning Star Drive (between Lancaster Avenue and Netherwood Road)
• Ward 8: Sawmill Valley Drive (between Folkway Drive and Grosvenor Place)

ASE uses a camera and speed measurement device to enforce the speed limit. When a vehicle is detected travelling above the posted speed limit, a ticket is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle.

“Today we have taken another important step towards improving road safety and achieving Mississauga’s Vision Zero goals. We know that speeding can have terrible consequences and we must, as a city, take action to get motorists to slow down,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “If you are driving in Mississauga, please do your part to keep all road users safe and obey the speed limit. When you do, you won’t receive a ticket from an ASE camera and you’ll be making our streets safer for everyone.”

Over the next few months, Mississauga’s two ASE cameras will rotate monthly to new locations. Cameras are located in 30-kilometres per hour ‘school area community safety zones’ where speeding is a consistent problem. Staff also consider traffic  volumes, collision history and site suitability when choosing a camera location.

As a result of a recent Council motion, twenty additional ASE cameras will be installed across the city later this year. Signage will be posted in each location to ensure motorists are aware that ASE cameras are operating in the area.

“I’m pleased the first two ASE cameras are up and running and am looking forward to having 20 more on our streets this year,” said Ward 9 Councillor Pat Saito and Chair of the Road Safety Committee. “Mississauga has always been a leader in advocating for road safety initiatives and ASE is the next logical step in our efforts to reduce speeding. It’s time to put safety first.”

When an ASE ticket is issued, it includes a set fine, as determined by the Chief Judge of the Ontario Court of Justice. The set fine is based on the vehicle’s rate of speed over the speed limit when the image was taken. The total ticket amount includes the set fine, applicable court costs and a victim fine surcharge, credited to the provincial Victims’ Justice Fund.

The City will monitor the success of the ASE rollout to help plan for future phases of the program. This could include installing additional cameras and putting cameras on different types of roadways.

“ASE is an important tool in our road safety toolkit. It helps reduce speeding, frees up law enforcement resources and raises awareness about the need to slow down,” said Geoff Wright, Commissioner of Transportation and Works. “Ultimately, the main goal of our ASE program is to make our streets safer by having motorists obey the speed limit – that means we would be very pleased not to issue a single ticket.”

Like many municipalities, the City is also asking the Province to expedite its legislation to allow ASE to operate under the Administrative Penalty System rather than the Provincial Offences Act. This would provide for a more local and accessible dispute resolution system. It would also free up provincial court time for more serious matters.

Residents can learn more about the program and track camera locations on the City’s dedicated webpage – mississauga.ca/ASE.

Tags

• Enforcement and Fines
• Public Safety
• Roads and Traffic