Halton Hills’ automated speed enforcement is one step closer to reality.
The camera was installed on Mountainview Road South near Eden Place on Wednesday (Jan. 15). Town staff have been reviewing images taken by the camera and say for the time being, it will remain in testing mode.
Town staff is working with Toronto’s Joint Processing Centre and the Ministry of Transportation to complete some work before the camera goes live.
When that happens, the ‘Coming Soon’ sign will be changed to ‘In Use.’
At the same time, the activated traffic calming sign located to the south of the mobile speed camera will be turned off.
The Town says it will be able to issue up to 5,000 tickets in the first year - a limit based on the number that can be handled by the Joint Processing Centre in Toronto. That figure is expected to increase by 5,000 each year.
Municipalities can only use automated speed enforcement in community safety zones. There are 23 such zones in Halton Hills and the camera will rotate between them, except for those that are only community safety zones during specific hours.
The next location for the camera will be Mountainview Road South, south of Sargent Road, though no timeline has been set for when the camera will move.
Matthew Roj, traffic coordinator for the Town of Halton Hills, said last year that drivers will be given some leeway from the posted limit, so tickets will not be issued for going one kilometre an hour over the speed limit. However, since the goal of the program is to reduce drivers’ speeds, he would not say how much wiggle room will be given.
“It will not be that stringent, but people have to understand that the maximum speed limit is the maximum speed limit, and if they are going above that they are breaking the law,” he said.
A provincial offences officer will review all violations. A ticket will then be mailed to the registered plate holder. It will include the penalty notice, a copy of the image taken by the camera and an enlargement of the licence plate.
The camera will only take a picture of vehicle’s plate, not the driver of the vehicle.
