The possibility of installing photo radar speed cameras at various locations throughout the Town of Hawkesbury was discussed when town council met on Monday, September 23. The plan is also known as Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE).
A report presented by Project Manager Karl Parent to council indicated staff have been gathering information and the earliest the project could be implemented is in mid 2025.
If installed, the cameras would take photos of licence plates of vehicles travelling higher than the posted speed limit.
Hawkesbury council is also considering making all roads within town limits a Community Safety Zone with increased fines and a speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour.
According to the report, eight locations have been identified as places of concern for excessive speed. They include Main Street East near École Paul VI, John Street at Confederation Park, Spence Avenue due to its proximity to two retirement/long-term care facilities and the hospital, Cartier Boulevard near the sports complex, Main Street at West Street, Higginson Street near the town hall, Cameron Street, and Tupper Street.
Parent’s report indicates it would cost the town $40,000 per year to install cameras mounted on poles. A battery system would cost $2,600 to $4,200 per month under a lease.
It would cost the town $12 to process each ticket issued through the use of the cameras in addition to an $8.25 per ticket lookup fee for licence plates registered with the Ministry of Transportation’s vehicle registration system. That fee would be recovered through the fine payment.
Mayor Robert Lefebvre said the report identifies possibilities and the areas of concern as identified by council.
Councillor Antonios Tsourounakis said he thought revenue from ASE must be returned to expenditures related to traffic safety, but asked if that revenue could be used for road paving.
Parent said he recommended a strategy where the revenue is used for safety measures but there is not necessarily a requirement for it to be used for that purpose.
“I think it would be up to council to make that decision,” he said.
Parent noted other municipalities have used ASE revenue for safety-related projects.
Tsourounakis surmised that revenue from ASE could exceed the town’s safety, meaning much of it could go to paving work.
“Legally, there’s no requirement to reserve for that purpose (safety)”, Lefebvre said.
The mayor cautioned revenue may not be as significant as possibly anticipated. He is looking forward to information from other municipalities to see what they have observed from ASE revenue.
“Our stance is to make sure we’re reinvesting into public safety because this is the point of these programs is public safety,” Chief Administrative Officer Sam Cardarelli said. However, he emphasized the use of the revenue is ultimately a decision for council to make.
Lefebvre noted safety is the prime consideration, especially with increased distances of travel to school or distance to school bus stops many children in Hawkesbury are now experiencing.
As examples of areas of concern and safety risks, Councillor Jeanne Charlebois referred to safety for students walking from École secondaire publique Le Sommet to use the arena at the Robert Hartley Sports Complex, and complaints from parents about speeding on streets
“I hear the complaints,” Charlebois said.
Lefebvre said council will continue to pursue the issue. No decision has been made to immediately proceed with installing cameras for ASE photo radar speed enforcement.
