Automated Speed Enforcement cameras are not the problem; speeding is.
On Monday, Belleville Council accepted a staff report that did not support Coun. Kelly Henderson’s request to disable the cameras between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. daily.
Henderson acknowledged the necessity of these cameras, especially in school zones. However, she raised concerns about the over $4 million generated from more than 51,000 speeding tickets this year, noting that this amount is coming from residents’ disposable income.
It’s true that these are challenging economic times, and speeding tickets can take a toll on your finances.
However, this cost is within our control. If you want to avoid these fines, don’t speed in community safety zones.
Furthermore, why should we give the impression that it’s acceptable to speed at night?
I commend the group of councillors and staff who stood firm in their support of the cameras and their positive impact on road safety and driver behavior.
The numbers speak for themselves.
There has been a 15 percent reduction in speeding after the cameras are relocated, indicating that they are having an impact on driver behavior.
However, it is worth noting that speeding has increased on secondary streets around the camera locations.
Coun. Kathryn Brown reported that during focused patrols in Trenton and Belleville last month, 326 tickets were issued to drivers, with the majority being for speeding.
In Northumberland, over the August long weekend, the OPP issued 112 speeding tickets.
The solution is simple: slow down, obey the law, and you won’t have a problem.
I’m Nicole Kleinsteuber, and that’s what I see looking Beyond the Headlines.
