'We have to move faster': Waterloo regional councillors want more automated speed enforcement sites
Waterloo regional council are looking to accelerate the creation of automated speed enforcement sites across the region.
At Tuesday’s meeting, regional staff presented a plan to double the number of automated speed enforcement sites in the region to 32 this year, but councillors wanted to see even more cameras added at a faster pace.
“This is moving too slow,” Coun. Rob Deutschmann told the meeting. “I hear the suggestion we’re going to 32 sites, but that’s not 32 cameras. The conversation seems to get conflated between sites and cameras. Thirty-two sites means we’re moving two cameras around to 32 sites. That’s not sufficient. That’s not safe for our community. We have to move faster on this.”
Staff said a new system to process the number of tickets that would be issued as a result of those cameras is needed to expand the program.
“The order of magnitude of getting to 32, basically a factor of two or three compared to today, is really capped by our capacity to process the number of offences,” commissioner for transportation services Mathieu Goetzke said. “I think what’s on the critical path first is that administrative processing system.”
Staff asked for the green light to explore a new case management system for penalties.
Currently, there are 16 sites at schools across the region.
Staff also want to look at potentially adding automated speed enforcement at all of the region’s schools, about 175 sites in total. That led to a discussion about how enforcement programs shouldn’t be limited to schools.
Some township councillors raised concerns about speeding in rural areas and specifically at entrances into towns.
Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe suggested the region should “be really aggressive” about tackling the issue.
“We need to move faster,” she said. “I could use more than 32 in Waterloo.”
Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic also asked if staff could look more closely at all options for processing penalties, saying automated speed enforcement can essentially be self-funding.
Goetzke noted the end goal is that speeding and therefore revenue from automated enforcement decreases.
“The ultimate hope is that we’re not going to get a lot of offences from it, so it will not be a self-sustaining program,” Goetzke said.
Council agreed to have staff bring back a “roadmap for a rapid implementation plan” of automated speed enforcement by the second quarter of 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires at suspected Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
Iran fired air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, which were suspected to be part of an Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
In his new book 'As Long as You Need', hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
NEW From window blinds to motorcycle helmets, here are the recalls in Canada this week
Here are the various items Health Canada recalled this week, including motorcycle helmets, power adapters, and bicycle cranksets.
DEVELOPING Israel targets air defence system in Syria, state news agency says
Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defence unit in southern Syria, causing material damage, state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement as saying Friday.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Stabbed Sydney Assyrian church bishop says he forgives attacker
An Assyrian church bishop who was stabbed during a service at his church said on Thursday he was recovering quickly, and that he had forgiven his attacker as police ramped up investigation into the riots triggered after the bishop's stabbing.