Red light cameras coming to Windsor intersections

Windsor considers red light cameras Windsor is looking to install red light cameras, but they aren't cheap. CTV Windsor's Rich Garton has details.

Windsor, Ont. — If you are in the habit of trying to beat a yellow light at Windsor’s intersections, you may want to think twice before stepping on the gas.

The City of Windsor is seriously investigating the idea of installing red light cameras at 10 intersections.

“It’s one of the biggest things I’ve heard when I was campaigning and now as a city councillor,” says Fabio Costante, who first brought the idea forward as a council question to administration.

City staff is engaging the province regarding the implementation of red light cameras in Windsor to utilize the “Joint Municipal Processing Centre” operated by the City of Toronto, which has cameras installed and monitored at many intersections.

Windsor will also apply to the Ministry of Transportation to be added to the list of designated municipalities which can legally utilize the technology.

Each camera is estimated to cost roughly $52,000 annually for a total cost of more than $500,000, but revenue generated from enforcement and fines is expected to reach $900,000, according to a city report.

The report suggests sharing costs with neighbouring municipalities in the county to cut the operating costs in half. Costante says it’s not intended to be a revenue generator, with the $325 fine split between the province and the municipalities.

“By no means is the primary intent here for this to make money or generate revenue, it’s to encourage different types of driving behaviour,” Costante says.

People who spoke with CTV Windsor Friday were on board with the idea.

“You pay the consequences for your actions, right?” says Chelsea Calvillo. “A ticket is the least of your worries, to be honest. You could kill somebody.”

“With the cameras, I think it would slow a lot of people down, especially younger kids,” says Debbie Ure, who moved to Windsor from Edmonton, where the technology is already used.

“I think it’s a great idea," Ure says. ”It’s going to take points off your licence and your insurance is going to go up.”

The technology has also been known to have some unintended consequences.

“There may be a likelihood that there will be a spike in the interim, in the short-run, of rear-end collisions as a result of red light cameras, but there will be a decrease in side collisions that are much more fatal,” says Coun. Costante.

Administration will also start investigating automated speed enforcement and will provide a report to council sometime in 2021 for budgetary review.

“At the end of the day, if you don’t break the law, you’re going to be fine,” adds Costante.