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red light cameras in toronto

History

In December 1998, Bill 102, Red Light Cameras Pilot Projects Act, allowed designated municipalities to use red-light cameras for two years. There were six designated municipalities. Cameras were used to photograph vehicles that enter intersections after traffic signals turn red. There were 38 intersections in Toronto selected for the project. Of these 38 intersections, 18 cameras were rotated between them. At any given time, 20 cameras were 'dummy cameras'. From their findings, six intersections in Toronto were selected to receive stepped up police enforcement. The pilot project cost over $7 million CAD.

In August 2004, the Province of Ontario passed legislation allowing municipalities to operate red light cameras indefinitely.

Current Government Position

Red-light cameras first came to Toronto, Ontario in November 2000. Six municipalities piloted the project at intersections, ticketing vehicles that went through a red light for the tidy sum of $190 CAD.

The City of Toronto requested that the project be extended by citing 'strong public support' for camera enforcement of red light running and statistics that show that the first two years of the project have shown that collisions have been reduced at intersections where cameras are located.

Collisions resulting in deaths and personal injuries were reduced by more than 25 per cent and those resulting in property damage were down almost 18 per cent as a result of the pilot project.

Angle collisions are most indicative of red light running. The angle collisions causing death or personal injury were reduced by 48 per cent and the same type of collisions causing property damage were reduced by 26 per cent.

As of this writing, the government of Toronto says that 10 cameras are being rotated among 38 intersections. They also say that the project is not a 'tax grab' since it costs more to operate the cameras than the program generates in terms of revenue.

The government of Toronto states that over 40 per cent of fatalities at signalized intersections are attributed to red light running.

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