Speeding on our municipal roads has long been a concern of many BWG residents.
Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) is an automated system that uses a camera and a speed measurement device to help enforce speed limits in Community Safety Zones.
On October 3, 2023, Council endorsed a 12-month ASE Pilot Project for BWG. The Town has since partnered with Global Traffic Group Ltd. for the duration of the pilot, to provide technology, processing solutions, and ASE expertise to BWG.
The Pilot will include a total of three rotations, with each rotation including four new ASE locations at Community Safety Zones throughout BWG.
Please Note: effective May 1, 2024, cameras at the locations of the first rotation (see below under "Current ASE Locations") are operational. Tickets/penalty orders will be issued to vehicle owners caught speeding in the posted areas.
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1. Notification Period |
| Each rotation will commence with a mandatory 90-day notification period before any cameras are installed and operational, via advanced warning signs at each respective ASE location. |
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2. Operational/In Use Period |
| The notification period will be followed by an operational/in use period of four months during which time the cameras will be active and tickets will be issued to vehicle owners caught speeding in the posted areas. |
| 3. New Rotation |
| After four months of operation, the cameras at the locations of the first rotation will be removed and reinstalled at four new Community Safety Zone locations, to begin the second rotation of the pilot project. |
Current ASE Locations
Effective May 1, 2024, cameras have been installed at the following locations:
- Line 7, between Lallien Drive and Dixon Road.
- Holland Street West, between West Park Avenue and Professor Day Drive.
- Professor Day Drive, south of Breeze Drive and West Park Avenue.
- Simcoe Road, near Catania Avenue.
Visit our online map for a current view of local ASE stats and locations.
Project Timeline
| February 1, 2024: Notification Period Begins for First Rotation |
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| May 2024: ASE Operational for First Rotation |
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| June 1, 2024: Notification Period Begins for Second Rotation |
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| September 1, 2024: ASE Operational for Second Rotation |
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| October 1, 2024: Notification Period Begins for Third Rotation |
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| January 1, 2025: ASE Operational for Third Rotation |
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| May 1, 2025: Pilot Project Ends |
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Project team, consultant, and Community and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee to review Pilot Project data, analyze results, and present findings and recommendations to Council on implementation of permanent ASE system for BWG. There is also an options to extend the Pilot by six months, should the team feel more time is required to collect data. |
Did you know?
- In 2019 the Ontario Government passed O. Reg 398/19 allowing municipalities to deploy ASE in designated Community Safety Zones and School Zones.
- ASE is an automated system that uses a camera and a speed measurement device to detect and capture images of vehicles travelling more than the posted speed limit.
- ASE is focused on altering driver behaviour to decrease speeding and increase safety.
- Speed is a contributing factor in approximately 1/3 of fatal collisions.
- Over 50% of convications related to the Highway Traffic Act were from speeding on Ontario roads.
- From 2015 to 2016, there was a 13% increase in people killed in Ontario from speed related collisions.
More About ASE
Speed limits are not guidelines – they are the law. ASE is the reminder we all need to slow down to keep our communities safe!
| How it Works |
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When a vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit in an ASE area, the ASE system captures an image. A Provincial Offences Officer reviews the image and issues a ticket. The ticket, including a digital copy of the image and an enlargement of the license plate, is mailed to the registered plate holder within 30 days of the offense.
Tickets are issued to the registered owner of the vehicle regardless of who was driving. No demerit points will be issued and the registered owner's driving record will not be impacted. |
| Timing and Camera Restrictions |
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ASE cameras can only be placed in Community Safety Zones within a municipality. All ASE sites will be marked with advanced warning signs 90 days before the cameras are installed, after which the signs will be replaced with active use signs (once system is installed and operational). Locations are selected based on longitudinal data, motor vehicle collisions, historic safety concerns, and communal complaints. |
FAQ
| Why Automated Speed Enforcement? |
| Although every municipality uses different methods and techniques to help enforce speed limits, ASE is one method that has proven to be effective in other Canadian provinces and around the world. Traffic safety is one of the highest priorities of BWG Council and this project is a major step forward in addressing speeding within our community. Municipalities have been collecting speed data in school zones and community safety zones, which is now being used to pinpoint where ASE cameras can be implemented to help promote road safety. |
| Are charges reviewed by a Provincial Offences Officer or are they automatically issued? |
| All charges are first reviewed by a Provincial Offences Officer. If warranted, an Offence Notice Penalty Order (fine), with a copy of the captured image, is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle within 30 days, with no demerit points issued. |
| What are the benefits of having ASE cameras installed on our roadways? |
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| What times of the day are the cameras active? |
| There will be no disclosure with respect to camera active times under the Program. Observing posted speed limits 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, will ensure that drivers are not issued a penalty notice under the ASE Program. |
| What do I do if I get a ticket? |
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The registered owner of the motor vehicle is liable for the speeding ticket/penalty notice. Owners disputing the alleged contravention have the following options available to them:
Convicted owners will not be subject to demerit points. |
| How do I pay the ticket? |
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You can pay your penalty notice:
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| Speeding is a big issue on my street. How can I request to have an ASE camera installed on a specific street? |
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First and foremost, ASE is regulated through O. Reg 398/19 so there are several rules and processes our municipality has to follow in deploying ASE. One of these rules is for ASE locations – ASE can only be deployed in designated Community Safety Zones and School Zones. Longitudinal data, motor vehicle collisions, historic safety concerns, and communal complaints are also considered in the internal ASE site selection.
If you would like to make recommendations on future ASE locations, please get in touch with our Community and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee at: traffic@townofbwg.com. |
| The cameras have been rotated to a site near me but the signs still say "Municipal Speed Camera Coming Soon", are the cameras live? |
| Once cameras are rotated, they undergo a testing period where images are taken to ensure the camera is placed in an appropriate location and properly calibrated. Once the testing period is over, the "Coming Soon" sign will be replaced with an "In Use" sign to indicate that the cameras are live. |
| Are threshold speeds being disclosed? |
| No, we do not disclose threshold speeds. Speed limits are not guidelines – they are the law. Driving at, or below, the posted limit will ensure a ticket is not issued. |
| Are demerit points issued? |
| No, demerit points are not issued. A fine is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle, regardless of who may be driving the car. |
| Will there be warning signs posted when you enter an area with ASE? |
| Yes, there will be clear signage ahead of the ASE units. Coming Soon signs will displayed for a period of 90 days prior to an ASE unit being operational. Once the cameras are installed and working, an In Use sign will replace it to indicate that charges are now being issued. |
| Why does the registered plate holder receive the ticket instead of the person who was driving when the ticket was issued? |
| Under the Highway Traffic Act, drivers can be held responsible for how their vehicles are being used. ASE systems cannot capture images of drivers or passengers so owner liability is in effect and results in the registered plate holder receiving the ticket. |
| Are charges reviewed by a Provincial Offences Officer or are they automatically issued? |
| All charges are first reviewed by a Provincial Offences Officer. If warranted, an Offence Notice (fine), with a copy of the captured image, is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle within 30 days, with no demerit points issued. |
| What is a Community Safety Zone and where are they located in BWG? |
| A Community Safety Zone is an area designated through a By-law (that is passed by council) to identify it as a road segment of higher risk or concern. Certain Highway Traffic Act fines (including speeding) are doubled in Community Safety Zones, which are mostly located close to schools and school zones. |
On-Site Signage
Advanced Warning Signs, posted 90-days before cameras are in use.
Active Use Signs, posted once cameras are installed and operational.
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