Deputy mayor moves to save speed cameras
Posted October 6, 2025
New Tecumseth Deputy Mayor Stephanie MacLellan will ask council tonight to support a motion seeking to reverse the provincial government's intention to prohibit the use of automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras in Ontario.
MacLellan's notice of motion is in response to last week's announcement by Premier Doug Ford who called ASE's "cash grabs" and would introduce legislation to end the program. This comes about five months after New Tecumseth installed ASE cameras in community safety zones at Father F.X. O'Reilly Catholic School - Queen Street North, Tottenham; and Monsignor J.E. Ronan Catholic School - Lilly Street, Beeton.
"(D)ata from the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police confirms that Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras are effective in reducing speeding, changing driver behaviour, and improving road safety, especially in school zones and community safety zones," according to her motion's preamble. "(A) recent study by SickKids and Toronto Metropolitan University found that ASE cameras reduced speeding by 45 per cent in Toronto, demonstrating a clear and measurable impact on driver behaviour and pedestrian safety."
The motion asks the province to retain ASE cameras as part of a broader traffic safety strategy;
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Amend the legislation to:
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Introduce lower and more proportionate fines for minor infractions;
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Establish clear and transparent criteria for ASE camera placement, prioritizing school zones, community safety zones, and high-risk corridors;
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Require prominent signage and public awareness to ensure deterrence rather than surprise enforcement;
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Engage municipalities and police services in collaborative policy development to ensure ASE programs are used ethically, effectively, and with public trust.
Province moves to ban ASE cameras only months after New Tecumseth installed them
Posted September 25, 2025
The Ontario government announced today its intent next month to introduce legislation to ban the use of municipal automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras across the province.
This comes about five months after New Tecumseth installed the ASE cameras in community safety zones at Father F.X. O'Reilly Catholic School - Queen Street North, Tottenham; and Monsignor J.E. Ronan Catholic School - Lilly Street, Beeton. Two other designated sites planned at Alliston Community Christian School - Adjala-Tecumseth Townline; and Tecumseth Beeton Elementary School - Patterson Street.
Since 2019, over 700 municipal speed cameras have been installed in 40 municipalities across Ontario, with more currently planned for installation in the coming months.
“At a time when governments at all levels should be doing everything they can to lower costs and make life more affordable, too many municipalities are using speed cameras as a cash grab,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Enough is enough. Instead of making life more expensive by sending speeding tickets to drivers weeks after the fact, we’re supporting road-safety measures that will prevent speeding in the first place, keep costs down and keep our streets safe.”
They will be replaced by a proposed new provincial fund to help affected municipalities implement alternative safety measures, including proactive traffic-calming initiatives like speed bumps, roundabouts, raised crosswalks and curb extensions, as well as public education and improved signage, to slow down drivers.
ASE works when a vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit in an enforcement area. The system captures an image that is stored and reviewed by a Provincial Offences Officer. The penalty order, which contains a digitized copy of the image and an enlargement of the licence plate, is mailed to the registered plate holder within seven days of the offence, outlining next steps and the cost of the associated fine which has to be paid within 30 days from the time the ticket is deemed served.
If passed, the legislation will prevent the use of municipal speed cameras immediately upon Royal Assent and require municipalities with existing speed cameras in school zones to install large new signs to slow down drivers by mid-November 2025, with permanent, large signs with flashing lights to be in place by September 2026.