Automatic Speeding Cameras

I think we can all agree that safer driving leads to safer communities and safe communities are important. That is exactly the purpose behind automated speed enforcement cameras that are installed in community safety zones. The goal is to reduce speeding in these community safety zones. We wanted to dive a little deeper to explore how these cameras work, what to do if you received a ticket and what impact they have on your car insurance.

How Do Automated Speeding Cameras Work?

Speed cameras are designed to capture vehicles that are travelling at a speed faster than the posted limit. They use a combination of cameras and radar gun technology to record the speed of the vehicle and the information of the vehicle. If a vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit or threshold in an area where an automated speed camera is operating, the system captures an image that is stored and reviewed by a provincial offences officer. The ticket, which contains the image of the vehicle and the license plate is then sent to the registered plate holder by mail, within 30 days of the offence.

In Ontario, these cameras are typically set up in community or school safety zones or high pedestrian traffic areas. These cameras are legally required to be marked by a sign that looks like the image below and is set up before approaching the camera.

How Do I Pay My Ticket?

To pay your ticket you need to follow the instructions on the mailed ticket. There is an option to pay online but it may come with additional fees. Some cities such as Kingston have their own payment platform which can be found here. If you city does not have their own payment platform the link to pay the ticket in Ontario is here: https://www.paytickets.ca/start. You will need your offence number and to know your appropriate county. For example: if you live in Belleville the Payee is Hastings County.

Can I Fight My Speeding Camera Ticket?

In Ontario, you do have the ability to fight or challenge these tickets. This can vary depending on the city you are fighting the ticket in but typically you will need to go to the local city hall or the city’s administrative penalty system and challenge the ticket there. However, with these tickets the evidence is fairly black and white (you are only issued a ticket if you are going over the posted speed limit) so disputing your case might be difficult. Nevertheless you do have 3 options:

1. Plead Guilty – pay the fine by the required deadline.
2. Request An Early Resolution Meeting – you will meet with a prosecutor to plead your case outside of the court. The prosecutor may decide to reduce the fine.
3. Go To Trial – a full examination of the evidence will be presented in front of a judge. This can lead to a reduction of the fine or full exoneration, but this is not a guarantee. You will also be responsible to have legal representation (either hired or some other form) and this option may take months before a trial date is set.

Fighting infractions if you feel you were not in the wrong can be worth it. However, with automated speed camera tickets it is very rarely worth fighting. The chances of your ticket being reduce or overturned are very low. And as you will find out below, the defense of someone else was driving my car, won’t hold up in this situation as the tickets are assigned to the vehicle not the driver.

Does An Automated Speeding Camera Ticket Impact My Insurance?

Speed camera tickets do not impact your car insurance rates. Hooray! These cameras are not designed to identify drivers, however that could change in the future. Without the ability to identify the driver the infraction cannot be assigned to the driver and their record, instead it is assigned to the vehicle. As a result, no demerit points or infractions will show on your driving record. This is similar to red light cameras, parking tickets and other automated systems. The owner of the vehicle will need to pay the fine but no other penalties are issued.

What Cities Use Automated Speeding Cameras In Ontario?

There are automated speed cameras in cities throughout Ontario. Most of the heavily populated cities in Ontario, such as the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa have adopted the automated speed camera program. However, we are also seeing smaller cities implement these programs to try and make their communities safer. We have outlined some of the cities in Ontario that currently use the automated speed camera program.

Belleville

If you live in Belleville we have posted a map detailing all the locations where the automated speed cameras are currently, or will be set up! View it below:

Durham Region

Locations may vary, however at the time this article was written the Durham Region website listed Permanent Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras at the following locations:

• Bayly Street, East of Harwood Avenue near Ajax High School and St. Bernadette Catholic School – Town of Ajax
• Simcoe Street between Taunton Road and Conlin Road near Ontario Tech University and Durham College – City of Oshawa
• Central Street, West of Brock Road near Claremont Public School – City of Pickering
• Anderson Street, North of Dundas Street near Anderson Collegiate Vocational Institute – Town of Whitby
• Harmony Road North, North of Eastbourne Avenue, near Eastdale Collegiate and Vincent Massey Public School – City of Oshawa
• Altona Road, South of Fiddlers Court, near Elizabeth B. Phin Public School – City of Pickering
• Myrtle Road West, West of Ashburn Road, near Burns Presbyterian Church – Town of Whitby
• Regional Highway 47, West of Front Street – Township of Uxbridge
• Simcoe Street South, North of Wellington Avenue East – City of Oshawa

Kingston

View the city of Kingston’s automated speeding locations using this link: https://www.cityofkingston.ca/roads-parking-and-transportation/road-safety/automated-speed-enforcement/automated-speed-enforcement-location-map/

Sudbury

Sudbury Speeding Camera locations include:

• Garson Coniston Road (between Maki Street and Falconbridge Road)
• Howey Drive (between Somerset Street and Downing Street)
• Bancroft Drive (between Bellevue Avenue and Kingsway)
• Moonlight Avenue (between Claude Street and Gagne Street)
• Bancroft Drive (between Hazelton Drive and Estelle Street)
• MR 80 – Guilletville (between Robin Avenue and Hubert Street) entering McCrea Heights

The camera locations are estimated to change in January, 2025. The upcoming locations include:

• Second Avenue, Sudbury (from Scarlett Road to Bancroft Drive)
• Hawthorne Drive (from Barry Downe Road to Auger Avenue)
• Countryside Drive (from Countryside Drive to Algonquin Road)
• Loachs Road (from Regent Street to Oriole Drive)
• Notre Dame Street West (from Rayside Avenue to Marier Street)
• Valleyview Road (from MR80 to Fournier Drive)