Not much support for photo radar from Queen’s Park

March 18, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
York Regional councillors are asking the provincial government to consider letting the bring back photo radar, but it looks like that’s not going to get very far.
Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones reported that Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca had shot down the request before officials in York even had a chance to make it.
“If I were the Region of York, I’m not sure I would waste the paper,” Jones said.
And if she were the Minister of Transportation, Jones said she wouldn’t be much more enthused about the program, commenting there are lots of other ways to make roads safer.
“Photo radar would not be at the top of my list,” she said.
Photo radar works by having cameras mounted in unmarked vehicles at the side of the road, taking pictures of cars that are speeding. Copies of the pictures are sent to the owner of the offending car, along with a ticket.
Jones wasn’t convinced that receiving a picture and ticket in the mail makes roads safer.
“I think there’s a pretty strong motivator when you get pulled over by one of Ontario’s finest,” she said.
But Caledon Mayor Allan Thompson thought it might be worth looking at, especially in problem areas like Caledon village, Cheltenham and SouthFields Village.
“Great idea if we could make it happen,” he said. “It could be a great help to the police.”