Speed trap backlash: Brampton's roads flooded with 185 surveillance cameras; drivers say 'we're human, not machines'

Some Ontario drivers are voicing growing frustration over the widespread use of speed cameras, as a new petition gains momentum in Brampton calling for their removal.

With 185 automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras set to be active across Brampton by the end of the summer, critics say the system is turning roads into zones of constant surveillance, reports Inside Halton.

“In the midst of an affordability crisis, inflation, rising taxes and economic pressure, families cannot afford to have their hard-earned money siphoned through automated ticketing systems ,” wrote Carolina Cutruzzola in a Change.org petition demanding the cameras be abolished. “These cameras disproportionately impact working class individuals, many of whom are just trying to commute safely, efficiently and peacefully.”

The petition, signed by more than 4,100 people as of July 14, accuses the authorities of removing the human element of policing and replacing it with what Cutruzzola called “cold, impersonal technology.” She argued that drivers are under pressure and said: “We are human. We are not perfect. We are not machines.”

Ontario first authorised the use of ASE cameras in 2017 to improve road safety in school and community zones where speed limits are under 80 km/h. The province says the goal is to reduce collisions and protect vulnerable pedestrians, but the cameras are controlled entirely by municipalities.

Speed camera enforcement has been controversial in cities across Ontario. In Toronto, a camera on Parkside Drive was cut down for the sixth time since November, even after another surveillance camera was installed to catch vandals. In Vaughan, the programme was paused after it issued over 32,000 tickets in just three weeks.

The fines, especially in designated community safety zones, can be steep. A ticket for going 10 km/h over the limit in such areas is $68.25, but municipalities often do not disclose whether any grace is given before issuing tickets. “Speed limits are not guidelines — they are the law,” the City of Vaughan noted.

Ticket recipients often receive notice weeks later by post, and fighting them in court is difficult. There is no interaction with police, and the photo evidence includes the vehicle, time, location and speed. However, the tickets do not affect driving records or insurance, unless the driver operates a commercial vehicle.

While the province says the ASE framework is meant to promote safety, critics argue it’s creating anxiety and raising money off working-class commuters. Some municipalities, like York Region, have brought in over $11.5 million since launching their programmes, raising questions about the role of revenue in the use of speed cameras.