Overturned speed cameras a big problem; Mississauga looks to keep them standing

The good news, Mississauga officials say, is that speed cameras deployed across the city since 2021 are slowing down lead-footed drivers on neighbourhood streets near schools.

The bad news, they noted at Wednesday’s meeting of general committee, is that many of the enforcement devices are being regularly knocked to the ground and otherwise vandalized by those up to no good.

So, City of Mississauga officials are now looking at ways in which they can keep the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras standing up and operating as they should, including a different approach to anchoring the devices to the ground.

With only 22 of the ASE cameras, at most, set up across Mississauga at any given time, if several or more are laying on the ground and damaged, that bites into the City’s ability to effectively enforce speed limits in school zones and community safety zones.

Furthermore, several city councillors observed, the cameras, which are a foot or so taller than an average newspaper box, but much heavier, are quite difficult for even several people combined to pick back up once they’ve been knocked to the ground.

As the City deals with the issue, though, officials say they must keep in mind that the cameras cannot be permanently anchored to the ground as they are rotated among numerous locations across the city.

Ward 1 Councillor Stephen Dasko brought the matter to the attention of City staff at Wednesday’s meeting, saying a large number of cameras in his ward are being knocked down and, in some cases, spray painted as well.

Ward 8 Councillor Matt Mahoney said on one street in his ward, the camera has been overturned 18 times.

He added it took him and five other people to lift one of the ASE cameras back up, and “…believe me, they are heavy.

“We certainly need to look at some solutions.”

One idea floated by Mahoney is to take advantage of closed circuit cameras in use at schools as they may capture on video people knocking over the ASE cameras.

“Even if we had signage to say ‘this is being monitored’…,” that would be helpful, Mahoney noted.

The councillor added he knows the speed cameras are working well as he has observed several areas in his ward in which cars are now travelling much slower due to the presence of the devices.

Geoff Wright, Mississauga’s transportation and works commissioner, said the City is working with the designer of the devices “on how to make a more secure ASE camera.

“The vendor is looking at options to better anchor the cameras to the ground.”

On numerous occasions in 2022 and throughout this year as well, ASE cameras across Mississauga have been knocked over and vandalized.

Under the ASE camera program launched in 2021, officials aim to have as many as 22 cameras operating at any given time. Due to various issues, though, that number sometimes drops below 22 for short periods.

Under the program, drivers speeding through Community Safety Zones (near schools) and other speeding hot spots have an image of their licence plate recorded by the camera and the registered owner of the vehicle is sent a ticket by mail.

Earlier this year, insauga.com reported that the number of active speed cameras in Mississauga had more than doubled in the space of a year.

ASE cameras across the city have been effective in slowing down drivers, Mississauga officials say.