Another speed camera knocked down and vandalized in Mississauga

Another speed camera has been knocked over and damaged in Mississauga.

The speed camera on Atwater Avenue, in front of St. Paul Secondary School, was on its side and spray painted with red anarchy symbols. Apparently, it was knocked over last week but as of today (May 16), it was still on its side.

And this isn’t the first time this camera has been vandalized.

“It’s been spray painted over almost since it went up,” one person wrote in the Port Credit Life Facebook group.

“Nightly event,” another wrote.

Officially known as automated speed enforcement (ASE) devices, the metal boxes contain a camera and speed measurement equipment to help enforce the speed limit. The speed cameras are placed in community safety zones where the speed limit is less than 80 km/h.

They are often in front of schools but the devices have been contentious since they were first operational in the summer of 2021.

In September, a camera was sprayed painted on Churchill Meadows Boulevard.

Another camera was vandalized on Atwater Avenue in April.

Last November, the City of Mississauga had 164 reports of vandalism, however, there are often multiple reports for the same incident. And in April there were already more than 50 reports of vandalism.

“Unfortunately, vandalism is a common occurrence for many City services, and it is not unusual for ASE cameras to become the target of graffiti or other types of vandalism,” Colin Patterson, City of Mississauga manager of traffic services and road safety, told insauga.com in an email.

All maintenance and repairs of the ASE cameras are the responsibility of the vendor and there is no additional cost to the city, Patterson said.

Residents are encouraged to call 311 to report incidents of vandalism so they can be addressed as quickly as possible.