Council to consider Automated Speed enforcement 

It may be at least two years away, but automated speed enforcement (ASE) could be coming to Sault Ste. Marie.

In December 2022, the Speed Management Task Force recommended eight steps the city could take to manage speed in the community. An ASE (Automated Speed Enforcement) system was one of the steps.

ASE is an automated system that uses a camera and a speed measuring device to enforce speed limits in identified areas. Under the Highway Traffic Act, municipalities may operate ASE in areas designated as Community Safety Zones or School Zones.

The system is supported by an Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS). 

ASE’s are growing in popularity in communities across Ontario as a means of increasing safety. A study by the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute found that the number of drivers who exceed posted speed limit by 20 km/hr or more was reduced by 87 per cent where ASE’s were employed.

If a vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit in an ASE-enforced area, the system captures an image that is stored and reviewed by a provincial offences officer. A ticket is then issued to the registered plate holder of the offending vehicle. As the ticket is issued to the registered plate holder of a vehicle and not the driver, demerit points are not applied to these infractions.

Fines for speeding in Community Safety Zones or School Zones under the Highway Traffic Act are as follows:

> Less than 20km/h over the speed limit – $6 per km/h over the speed limit; 

> 20km/h over the speed limit but less than 30km/h – $9 per km/h over the

speed limit;

> 30km/h over the speed limit but less than 50km/h – $14 per km/h over the

speed limit, and

> 50km/h or more over the speed limit – $19.50 per km/h over the speed limit.

In its report which council will discuss Monday night, City staff anticipate that four mobile ASE units deployed throughout the community will generate approximately 20,000 tickets per year, in addition to the 10,000 normally processed.

Implementing the system would not be cheap. Annual operating costs are pegged at $945,000, rising $9,000 a year to $981,000 in the fifth year. There would be a one-time cost, in year one, of $110,000.

The most significant yearly operating costs rest with ASE Offense Processing ($400,000) and additional staff ($267,000). 

Redflex Traffic Systems (Canada) Limited was selected as the successful vendor responsible for the installation, operation, and maintenance of ASE equipment and services across Ontario.

Staff projects the ASE system would be revenue-positive, generating $1.2 million annually, based on four mobile ASE units capturing 20,000 tickets at $60 per ticket (10 km/hr over the posted speed limit).

Staff recommends council:

> Pursue an agreement with the City of Toronto Joint Processing Centre for ASE offence processing;

> Pursue an agreement with the Ministry of Transportation Ontario for access to licence plate information for offending vehicles;

> Develop Automated Speed Enforcement site selection criteria;

> Pursue an agreement with the Ministry of Attorney General for the required victim fine surcharge component that is paid by the notice recipient to the

City;

> Develop supporting Administrative Monetary Penalty System by-law,

polices, and guidelines;

> Refer staff complement increase requests to the 2025 budget; and

> Refer one-time and ongoing operating costs to the 2025 budget.

Staff’s report notes that subject to 2025 budget approval, it will take at least 24 months until the administration is in place to support ASE offence notices. 

The projected date for the activation of the ASE system is 2026.