Ontario government doubles down on removing ‘cash grab’ speed cameras this fall as 16 more damaged

The Ford government says it will remove automatic speed enforcement cameras this fall if municipalities do not take steps to scrap them.

“We are exploring alternative tools to enhance traffic safety without the use of automatic speed cameras that are nothing but a cash grab,” Dakota Brasier, the director of media relations for Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, said in an email statement to CTV News Toronto on Tuesday afternoon.

“We want to see cities take steps to remove them, otherwise we are prepared to help get rid of them when the House returns in the fall.”

The statement came hours after Premier Doug Ford threatened to get rid of the speed cameras if they remain in place.

“They should take out those cameras, all of them,” Ford said during an unrelated event hosted by the Toronto Region Board of Trade. “This is nothing but a tax grab.”

He made the remarks the same day as the investigation got underway into 16 speed cameras across the city being damaged overnight.

This morning, CTV News showed at least 10 cameras that had been cut down. Two cameras were cut down in Toronto’s east end, including one near Coxwell Avenue and O’Connor Drive and another near Lake Shore Boulevard and Woodbine Avenue.

One downtown speed camera was axed near Dundas and Bathurst streets and three were cut down in North York, including one near Sheppard Avenue West and Seely Drive, another near Don Mills Road and Sheppard Avenue, and a third near Bayview Avenue and Post Road.

Three other cameras were chopped down in Scarborough, including one near McCowan Road and Sandhurst Circle, another near Ellesmere and Gladeside roads, and one near Bellamy Road and Northleigh Drive.

In the west end, one was cut down on Rockcliffe Court, near Jane Street and St. Clair Avenue West.

On Tuesday afternoon, Toronto police confirmed six more cameras were damaged.

They are located in the areas of Kipling and Rexdale Boulevard; Scarlett Road and Eglinton Avenue West; The East Mall and Faludon Court; Eglinton Avenue West and Martin Grove Road; Midland Avenue south of Aylesworth Avenue; and Dufferin Street south of Dufferin Park Avenue.

“At this time, I can tell you that officers are analyzing each occurrences to gather evidence and identify witnesses. We have additional investigative resources looking into each one of these occurrences,” Toronto police Insp. Paul Wallace said during a news conference on Tuesday.

Police release suspect images

Toronto police have released the first images of suspects accused of cutting down the speed camera on Parkside Drive. They were shared days after that camera was chopped down for the seventh time in the early hours of Sept. 7.

Wallace said Toronto police are also working with the city on how to prevent further incidents, including the possible installation of security cameras.

“I want to make one thing clear: traffic enforcement continues, and our traffic officers will continue to enforce the law around speeding and other dangerous driving behaviours across the city,” the inspector said.

“You will see continued traffic enforcement across the city, and you will also see our presence in locations where speed cameras were targeted by vandals.”

A spokesperson for the City of Toronto said in a written statement to CP24 that they are aware of the vandalized automated speed enforcement cameras.

“Vandalism is a criminal offence and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Toronto Police Service.”

Vandalism ‘undermines’ safety

According to the city, there have been more than 800 reported incidents of vandalism involving speed cameras this year, although most were “minor” incidents, such as graffiti, and did not require the cameras to be taken out of service.

“The City of Toronto condemns all vandalism of these speed cameras. Damaging these devices allows dangerous speeding to continue and undermines the safety of vulnerable road users, as all ASE devices are located in community safety zones such as near schools, playgrounds and hospitals,” the city’s statement continued.

“We continue to work with our vendor and the Toronto Police Service on solutions to prevent future incidents of vandalism of ASE devices.”

Speaking beside a toppled speed camera on Lake Shore Boulevard this morning, Coun. Brad Bradford called the incidents overnight “coordinated” vandalism.

“Obviously we condemn this type of criminal behaviour, this vandalism that was obviously done in a coordinated fashion across the city,” he said.

“This continues to happen and it has become an embarrassment and a joke. This is another indictment on city hall and this administration’s inability to get the basics right and road safety is very important. The fact that we haven’t found a resolution that addresses the chronic cutting down and removal of the Automated Speed Enforcement (cameras) just shows that we continue to fail on the basics.”

Police would not confirm if they believe the incidents overnight involved a group of people, only saying they are taking the cases seriously.

“We are actively investigating because this is a serious criminal offence, mischief over and those who are responsible for this would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” Wallace said.

‘It’s not fair’

Provincial legislation enacted in 2017 allows municipalities, including Toronto, to operate speed cameras in community safety zones provided several criteria are met, including posting signage advising drivers of their presence.

Ford suggested that the cameras unfairly target drivers who are only marginally travelling over the speed limit.

“I’ve driven by speed traps not even close to school areas,” the premier said Tuesday.

“Some people driving through a neighbourhood and they are five, 10 kilometres over, they are getting nailed. It’s not fair. So, I’m dead against this photo radar that they have.”

Ford said he hopes more municipalities follow the lead of Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca, who scrapped the city’s speed camera program following public outcry.

“Hopefully the cities will get rid of them… or I’m going to help them get rid of them very shortly,” Ford said.

When asked about the public safety benefit, he said there are better ways to protect the public.

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

“All you might as well do is knock on everyone’s door and say, ‘I’m going to raise your taxes.’”

He suggested putting up “flashing signs” to encourage people to slow down or to put an officer with a radar gun in areas where drivers are prone to speeding.

“Get rid of the speed cameras or I’m going to do it for them,” Ford said in a warning to municipalities.

‘A life-saving public health measure’

Jess Spieker, of the advocacy group Friends and Families for Safe Streets, said it was “shocking and disgusting” that the premier would support “walking back a life-saving public health measure.”

“These cameras are deployed where they are deployed for a reason. These cameras save lives. People have died where these cameras have been put up and the people cutting these down are risking other people’s lives,” Spieker told CP24 on Tuesday.

“They are ready and apparently very happy to cause another family to be devastated, to have to plan a funeral, to live in a lifelong nightmare of anguish and grief because their loved one died being hit by a speeding driver instead of just leaving these alone.”

Mayor Olivia Chow did not directly address the premier’s comments but denied the cameras are a “tax grab.”

“The camera is there to protect our most vulnerable, whether they are children going to school, or seniors going shopping or going to see a doctor. They are protecting our citizens,” Chow told reporters at city hall on Tuesday.

“Kids are going back to school this week for heaven’s sake.... Stop tampering with public safety devices.”

She said data released by SickKids shows there is “clear evidence” that cars slow down in the presence of speed cameras. Chow said for pedestrians, the risk of severe injury and death increases as speed increases.

“Don’t speed and you won’t get a ticket,” she said. “If you are breaking the law, there has to be consequences.”