Chopper 24 was over O’Connor Dr. near Coxwell Ave. where the camera that is supposed to catch speeders is lying on the ground.
Premier Doug Ford says he plans to take matters into his own hands if Ontario municipalities don’t “get rid of the speed cameras” in short order.
Ford made the comments while speaking to reporters at a Toronto Region Board of Trade event on Tuesday morning.
“They should take out those cameras, all of them,” Ford said. “This is nothing but a tax grab.”
Ford’s comments come after speed cameras across Toronto have repeatedly been cut down, including several overnight.
Just days ago, a speed camera on Parkside Drive, one of Toronto’s most frequently vandalized speed cameras, was chopped down for the seventh time in less than a year.
On Tuesday morning, images captured by CP24 showed at least three other cameras in Toronto had been cut down overnight, including one near Coxwell Avenue and O’Connor Drive, another on Lake Shore Boulevard, between Woodbine and Coxwell avenues, and a third near Dundas and Bathurst streets.
“We are aware that multiple Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras were vandalized overnight. Vandalism is a criminal offence and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Toronto Police Service,” a spokesperson for the City of Toronto said in a written statement to CP24.
They went on to note that there have been more than 800 incidents of vandalism involving speed cameras reported to the city this year, although most were “minor” incidents, such as graffiti, and did not require the cameras to be taken out of service.
“The City of Toronto condemns all vandalism of these speed cameras. Damaging these devices allows dangerous speeding to continue and undermines the safety of vulnerable road users, as all ASE devices are located in Community Safety Zones such as near schools, playgrounds and hospitals,” the statement continued.
“We continue to work with our vendor and the Toronto Police Service on solutions to prevent future incidents of vandalism of ASE devices.”
‘Dead against this’
Ford condemned the cameras on Tuesday, suggesting that they unfairly target drivers who are travelling over the speed limit by a marginal amount.
“I’ve driven by speed traps not even close to school areas,” the premier said Tuesday.
“Some people driving through a neighbourhood and they are five, 10 kilometres over, they are getting nailed. It’s not fair. So, I’m dead against this photo radar that they have.”
Ford said he hopes more municipalities follow the lead of Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca, who scrapped the city’s speed camera program following public outcry.
“Hopefully the cities will get rid of them… or I’m going to help them get rid of them very shortly,” Ford said.
When asked about the public safety benefit, he said there are better ways to protect the public.
“I’m all about public safety. I’m against taxing the death out of people,” he said.
“All you might as well do is knock on everyone’s door and say, ‘I’m going to raise your taxes.’”
He suggested putting up “flashing signs” to encourage people to slow down or to put an officer with a radar gun in areas where drivers are prone to speeding.
“Get rid of the speed cameras or I’m going to do it for them,” Ford said in a warning to municipalities.