Severn moves ahead with photo radar after Ford slams speed camera programs

A sign alerting drivers that a municipal speed camera is in use along the roadway ahead. (CTV News)

Drivers in Severn are being put on notice: slow down or expect a ticket in the mail.

The Township of Severn has switched on its first automated speed enforcement camera in the Division Road West Community Safety Zone near Marchmont Public School. Township officials say the goal is simple — to make school zones safer for kids by cutting down on speeding.

The program is part of Severn’s broader traffic safety plan, approved by council in 2024. Advance warning signs were up for 90 days before the camera went live on Tuesday. Those signs now read “Municipal Speed Camera in Use.”

When a vehicle is caught going over the speed limit, the registered owner will receive a penalty order by mail. The Township says fines do not come with demerit points and will not appear on a driver’s record.

Officials also warn that anyone receiving a text or email demanding payment should treat it as a scam, since only mailed orders are valid.

And the Township says more cameras are on the way, including at Coldwater Public School, Severn Shores Public School, and along several busy roads like Muskoka Street North, River Street, Burnside Line, and Coldwater Road.

Severn Mayor Mike Burkett says the cameras are about safety, not revenue.

“We need to slow down and obey the posted speed limit, especially near schools and in our community safety zones — the places where our children and residents live and play,” he said.

The move comes as Premier Doug Ford has criticized municipalities for what he called “tax grab” speed cameras, arguing local governments should not rely on tickets to balance their budgets.

“I’m all about public safety,” Ford said. “I’m against taxing the death out of people.”

Severn officials counter that their focus is on changing driver behaviour and protecting families.

Council says revenue from the fines will go back into traffic safety initiatives.

• Related | ‘It’s just a tax grab’: Ford urges municipalities to put the brakes on speed cameras