Photo radar may be a hot button topic right now in Toronto, but it is also one in Guelph. It is seen as a money grab by the public and an infraction deterrence by the public services. So which is it and what does it mean for you?
Photo radar is a camera that is able to detect speeding traffic violations and automatically tickets the owner of the vehicle for those violations. If you are speeding, it takes a picture of your license plate and a couple weeks later, the owner will get a ticket in the mail.
For police and the city budget, it could mean big bucks. A group in Poole, Dorset found that one speed camera earned the municipality £1.3 million over the 13 years it was operating. Closer to home, Ontario had photo radar, introduced in 1994, but was scrapped a year later because of an election promise. Guelph’s Police Chief Bryan Larkin is hoping reintroducing photo radar would mean freeing up the police officers for more pressing issues.
There are a number of issues surrounding photo radar, including its accuracy, owner liability, and unpopularity.
Photo radar still has its weaknesses, just like radar used now. It can be faulty in high humidity, rain, other environmental issues, and when there are multiple vehicles in its beam.
Section 207 of the Highway Traffic Act allows certain offences to be charged against the owner. It is called Owner Liability. This means that even if it wasn’t you speeding in the photo radar, you are on the hook for the ticket and fine.
Previously, you could dispute the speed, just like any other HTA ticket, but if we do see photo radar used for speeding enforcement, it may move in the direction of Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMP). With an AMP, you can dispute the fine and the time to pay the fine, but you cannot dispute your guilt or innocence on the charge.
The big question, though, is whether or not photo radar deters drivers from speeding. A photo radar ticket could land you with major fines. It does not go on your MTO record or you won’t earn any demerit points. Does this allow people who can afford to pay the fines to feel as if they can speed without consequence?
Currently, there is no photo radar in place for speeding, but things may change as the issue is debated.
