Automated speed enforcement cameras will be staying in the City of Belleville.
Councillor Henderson brought forward a motion at Monday’s regular Council meeting at City Hall regarding the use of automated speed enforcement cameras, asking that Council direct staff to undertake the necessary steps to eliminate the use of automated speed enforcement cameras with the exception of school zones only.
Councillor Henderson mentioned a survey was completed by residents of the City, with the majority not in favour of the automated speed enforcement cameras. 582 residents responded to the survey, of those 582, 56% were completely opposed to the automated speed enforcement cameras, with only 10% being completely in favour of them.
The additional 30% were somewhat in favour of them. It was also mentioned that residents notice heavier traffic on secondary streets in an attempt to avoid the cameras.
74% of the respondents felt as though the automated speed enforcement cameras were having a negative financial impact on affected families.
Henderson noted removing the cameras is not an anti-safety measure, but pro-engineering standards and that the current system generates revenue based off penalizing ‘predictable driving behavior on poorly matched road design.”
Councillor Chatten stated that the speed enforcement cameras were intended to be a temporary fix to assist police, and that council is ‘Taking on something that doesn’t belong to us’ and that ‘It has gone beyond what it was intended for in the very beginning.’
Councillor Carr and Councillor Thompson had opposing views, saying the cameras have an importance in providing safety, especially for the vulnerable populations or people using public transit.
The vote was 5-3 opposed to the motion.
In favour of the motion were Councillor Henderson, Councillor Chatten, and Mayor Ellis.
Opposed to the motion were Councillor Carr, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Brown, Councillor Enright-Miller, and Councillor Kelly.
Councillor Seu was absent from today’s meeting.
(HAILEY MACDONALD)
