At least 20 automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras in Toronto have been damaged so far this month, as three more were vandalized earlier this week.
Toronto police told CP24 that they received reports on Sept. 14 that two speed cameras along Avenue Road and one on Mount Pleasant Avenue were cut down.
“All incidents are currently being investigated,” police said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the City of Toronto said it is working with the vendor and police on solutions to prevent future incidents, including remote monitoring of the systems to identify and respond to vandalism more quickly, as well as stronger poles for permanent cameras.
Last week, 16 cameras across the city were chopped down or vandalized in a single night. Days before that, the speed camera on Parkside Drive was cut down for the seventh time this year.
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 noted that all speed cameras are located in community safety zones, such as near schools, playgrounds and hospitals.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw has said that officers would be deployed in locations where cameras were being cut down to do traffic enforcement.
“I think cameras are a very important strategy the city has as part of our Vision Zero and our officers complement that effort that we all have collectively in trying to reduce harm on our roadways,” Demkiw said during a press conference on Sept. 11. Vision Zero is the city’s action plan aimed at reducing traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on streets.
The growing number of speed camera vandalism cases comes as Ontario Premier Doug Ford indicated that his government would get rid of them.
Ford has called the camera a “cash grab” and suggested that they unfairly target drivers who are travelling marginally over the speed limit.
“Hopefully the cities will get rid of them… or I’m going to help them get rid of them very shortly,” Ford said last week.
Days after Ford’s remarks, the City of Vaughan suspended its speed camera program on Monday. The premier applauded the move, writing in a social media post, “We can keep our streets safe without making life more expensive for hardworking taxpayers.”
On Thursday, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police voiced their support for speed cameras, saying they are effective in reducing speeding and freeing up police resources. The group called on the premier to reconsider his plan to remove the cameras.
“Employing ASE tools has been proven to reduce speeding, change driver behaviour, and make our roads safer for everyone — drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and especially children and other vulnerable road users,” the OACP wrote.
“These tools are especially deployed in school zones and community safety zones, where slowing down saves lives and prevents serious injuries.”
With files from CP24’s Codi Wilson and The Canadian Press
