Automated Speed Enforcement

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The Highway Traffic Act only authorizes the use of Automated Speed Enforcement in designated school zones and community safety zones.

A community safety zone is a section of roadway that has been designated through a by-law and recognized under provincial legislation, identifying it as an area where public safety is of special concern (i.e., school areas, parks/playgrounds, excessive speeding, low speed limit compliance, collision history, etc.)

A school zone is a section of roadway where reduced speed limits are in effect within 150 metres in either direction of a school property. School zones are designated on roadways that meet certain warrant criteria and are not established at all schools. School areas that are not classified as ‘school zones’ do not have posted speed reductions during school hours but can still qualify for Automated Speed Enforcement when a Community Safety Zone is established that encompasses the school area.

The reduced speed limits and applicable time periods for established school zones are standardized city-wide. On roadways where school zones have been designated, the reduced speed limit is in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, September to June. This consistent application of school zones promotes a city-wide understanding amongst motorists as to the days and times reduced speed limits are in effect, enhancing the safety of those travelling to and from school using alternative modes of transportation.

Currently, the City is focused on implementing speed cameras in school zones/areas and parks/playgrounds. Speed camera locations near schools have been selected based on a data-driven approach, taking into consideration compliance with the posted speed limit, the number of speeders travelling 15 km/h or more over the posted speed limit, the number of students travelling to school using active transportation, as well as collision history. Locations near parks are selected considering data such as park classification, collision history, roadway classification, speeding issues, pedestrian activity, and proximity to schools.

In 2021, City Council approved a pilot study within areas along high-speed roadways, not necessarily near parks or schools, to determine if automated speed enforcement cameras are effective at reducing the number of high-speed drivers and incidences of street racing. Criteria considered to select these locations includes collision history, speeding issues, proximity to schools and feedback from Ottawa Police Service. Installations at four locations as part of this pilot study are expected to occur through 2024.

While not every Community Safety Zone is equipped with an automated speed enforcement system, signs will be posted advising motorists when they are entering a zone where the enforcement system is active.

Speed camera locations installed within Community Safety Zones are listed in the table below. Additionally, an interactive map displaying all active speed camera locations is available and can be viewed by selecting the ‘Automated Speed Enforcement’ data layer.

The City is expanding the Automated Speed Enforcement program by gradually adding cameras to new locations. These include:

• Bridge Street from West River Drive to Arthur Crescent
• Colonial Road from Delson Drive to Frank Kenny Road
• Crichton Street from Vaughn Street to St. Patrick Street
• Gardenway Drive from Saturn Crescent/Paradise Crescent to Northlands Drive
• Kitchener Avenue from Cochrane Street to Jasper Avenue
• Knoxdale Road from Skipton Road to Cremona Crescent
• Longfields Drive from Strandherd Drive to Marketplace Avenue
• Merivale Road from MacFarlane Road to Brookdale Avenue
• Ogilvie Road from Kender Avenue to La Verendrye Drive
• Old Richmond Road from Kimberly Road to Tanglewood Drive
• Ottawa Street from McBean Street to Cockburn Street
• Queen Mary Street from Quill Street to Edith Avenue
• Stittsville Main Street from Hobin Street to Beverly Street
• Stoneway Drive from Forest Gate Way to Mountain Ash Drive
• Terry Fox Drive from Richardson Side Road to Old Second Line Road

Once the cameras are active, motorists photographed speeding through these areas will get a ticket. Like speeding tickets issued by police officers, the fine amount will be based on how much the driver was exceeding the posted speed limit. Since all City of Ottawa speed cameras are installed in Community Safety Zones, fines will be doubled – even if it occurred outside of school hours (fine is based on the posted speed at the time of the infraction).

Tickets are mailed to the registered plate owner of the vehicle with no demerit points, within 30 days. There are options for payment or response to the Provincial Offence Violation.

Please visit aseontario.com to learn more on automated speed enforcement tickets and fines in Ontario.

The law requires that the speed measurement component of each Automated Speed Enforcement System is verified once every twelve months to ensure that it is accurate. A Provincial Offences Officer issuing a charge must first verify that there is a Certificate of Accuracy for the device issued within twelve months of the date of the offence.

The following active Automated Speed Enforcement System Certificates of Accuracy have been made available for disclosure. Please refer to the location and offence date on your Automated Speed Enforcement System Offence Notice to help identify the corresponding Certificate of Accuracy.

The law requires that the speed measurement component of each Automated Speed Enforcement System is verified once every twelve months to ensure that it is accurate. A Provincial Offences Officer issuing a charge must first verify that there is a Certificate of Accuracy for the device issued within twelve months of the date of the offence.

The following inactive Automated Speed Enforcement System Certificates of Accuracy have been made available for disclosure. Please refer to the location and offence date on your Automated Speed Enforcement System Offence Notice to help identify the corresponding Certificate of Accuracy.