City of Barrie testing four new locations for photo radar cameras: Here’s where

Motorists driving through several community safety zones in Barrie may have noticed new signage warning of automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras - but the cameras aren’t issuing tickets just yet.

The City of Barrie installed ‘Testing’ signs at four school zone locations where photo radar camera technology is being prepared.

The City will be introducing two new cameras to its ASE program. The locations include Grove Street East near Maple Grove Public School, Livingstone Street near Monsignor Clair, Livingstone Street near Ford/West Bayfield Elementary School, and Rose Street near Barrie North Collegiate Institute.

According to Tom Hanrahan, the city’s traffic services supervisor, the signage is part of a phased implementation approach that lets motorists know where the cameras will be located before enforcement begins.

“The City doesn’t yet have an estimated date for activation at these locations,” Hanrahan noted, emphasizing the current signage is for testing purposes only.

Once active, the cameras will automatically capture images of vehicles exceeding the speed limit in designated school zones, and a provincial offences officer reviews the photos to issue tickets by mail.

The initiative is aimed at reducing speeds in areas with high pedestrian activity, especially during school hours.

In Barrie, school zone speed limits typically drop to 40 km/h between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday from September to June. The City confirmed that outside of those hours, including during the summer, the speed limit returns to the regular posted limit for that road.