Automatic speed enforcement cameras may be coming to Prince Edward County.
During Thursday’s committee of the whole meeting, Councillor Sam Grosso put forward a motion to establish an Automated Speed Enforcement program.
Similar programs are already in place in Belleville and Napanee.
Speed-measuring cameras are able to recognize travelling vehicles moving over the speed limit, and the licence plate number of the vehicle. The owner of the vehicle would receive a ticket in the mail afterwards. Because the camera can’t prove the owner was the one driving, the tickets would not result in points on the driver’s licence.
Under Ontario law, these cameras can only be deployed in school zones or community safety zones.
Councillor Sam Grosso said that the primary goal of the program is to make the roads safer, especially for pedestrians.
“There’s an issue with speeding in the county, I see it all the time where people are distracted with their phones and whatever else and still speeding,” said Councillor Grosso. “The money that would be coming in would be staying in the county and could help us with lots of issues that we need help with.”
Councillor Bill Roberts was also in favour of the program, and suggested replacing existing signs that show drivers their current speed.
“I’ve heard from residents in Northport that our current speed signals are used in early hours of the morning to register what amounts to drag races through the hamlet,” said Councillor Roberts.
The motion passed unanimously, and was forwarded on to council for final approval.
