Some drivers in Brampton, Ontario, are upset about the increasing number of speed cameras on city roads. A petition with over 4,100 signatures is asking for the removal of these cameras, saying they feel like they’re being watched all the time.
By the end of summer, 185 automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras will be active in Brampton. These cameras automatically issue speeding tickets without any human involvement. Critics say this system takes away the human element of policing and relies too much on machines.
Carolina Cutruzzola, who started the petition on Change.org, says families are already struggling with high costs like inflation, taxes, and day-to-day expenses. She believes that getting expensive tickets from these cameras adds more financial pressure, especially on working-class people who are just trying to get to work safely. “We are human, not machines,” she said.
The Ontario government first allowed the use of these cameras in 2017 to make roads safer, especially in school and community zones where speed limits are below 80 km/h. Municipalities now control how and where the cameras are used.
But the use of these cameras has sparked controversy in other cities too:
- In Toronto, a speed camera was destroyed six times by angry residents.
- In Vaughan, the program was paused after it gave out over 32,000 tickets in just three weeks.
Fines can be high. For example, driving just 10 km/h over the speed limit in a safety zone can cost $68.25. Many cities don’t say whether they allow any small grace before ticketing. Also, drivers often find out weeks later by mail, and challenging the ticket is hard. There’s no police officer involved — just a photo of the car, speed, time, and location.
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The good news is these tickets don’t affect your driving record or insurance — unless you’re driving a commercial vehicle.
The government says these cameras help keep pedestrians safe and reduce accidents. But many people feel they’re just being used to make money. For example, York Region made over $11.5 million from these cameras, making people wonder if it’s really about safety — or revenue.
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More speed cameras are showing up across Brampton, and not everyone is happy about it.
