Sudbury's speed cameras effective, but many appear to resent them (2024)

The problem with speed cameras is that they seem to work.

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While the Greater Sudbury Police Service could not immediately provide stats illustrating their efficacy, many drivers in Greater Sudbury will tell you they have noticed the speed-cam effect on city roadways — more drivers are slowing down and adhering more closely to speed limits.

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The cameras went into operation on March 22 and so far, Tom Davies Square says the anecdotal evidence points to two thumbs up.

“The overwhelming feedback we are receiving from residents is the automated speed enforcement cameras have slowed vehicles and are an effective tool to address vehicle speeds on the community’s roads,” Joe Rocca, director of linear infrastructure services at city hall, told The Star last week. “The goal of the ASE program is to reduce vehicle operating speeds, which will in turn improve road safety. The program has been an overwhelming success on this front with motorists reducing their operating speeds almost as soon as the ASE cameras were installed on the road.”

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But if vandalism is any indication, residents are not happy about the cameras.

During a point-in-time tour of the six speed cameras on April 2, four were in good shape. The two cameras in Val Caron and Garson, however, had been vandalized.

There was graffiti on the camera in Val Caron, which is in front of Confederation Secondary School, and its screen had been scrubbed with soap. Someone had also tampered with the latch, in order to gain access to the interior of the box housing the camera. It did not appear they succeeded.

The camera in Garson, located on Falconbridge Road, had been toppled. It appeared someone tried to kick in the side panel and pry it open, as it was heavily dented. Now it’s gone altogether.

Acts of vandalism have been ongoing since the cameras were installed in late March. On March 29, the camera on Gary Avenue had been covered with a black garbage bag, according to chatter on Facebook; and on April 7, the camera on Main Street in Val Caron had been knocked over. On April 14, residents noted the camera in Garson was actually missing.

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“Acts of vandalism have occurred at several of the automated speed enforcement cameras, but all ASE cameras have been cleaned, repaired and are fully functional,” Rocca said.

Rocca advised residents to report vandalism by calling 311 or emailing 311@greatersudbury.ca.

“When vandalism of our ASE cameras is reported to 311, a notification is automatically sent to the ASE camera vendor, who then sends their technician to investigate and repair,” he noted. “The ASE cameras are leased by the city from the camera vendor. All cleaning and repairs to the ASE cameras is included as part of the lease agreement, so there are no additional costs to the city.”

In February 2023 as part of budget deliberations, staff estimated two speed cameras could earn more than $1 million in gross revenue annually.

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“It is estimated that each offence will generate $55 in fine revenue (set fine and court cost fee) for the municipality,” staff said in a business case presented to council. “The processing of 20,000 offences is expected to generate $1.1 million in annual revenue.”

It is important to note that is gross revenue. It cost taxpayers $382,000 to purchase the speed cameras and for ongoing maintenance. Processing offences will cost taxpayers another $450,000 annually. It also costs taxpayers $22,000 to access the Ministry of Transportation’s license plate information portal.

Kaitlyn Dunn, a spokesperson for GSPS, said the service has gotten calls about vandalism, including an incident on March 29 that was in progress.

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“We have received one report in relation to a mischief as it was a crime-in-progress. Around 11:50 p.m. on March 29, a community member driving on Falconbridge Road witnessed an individual on an ATV tying a strap around the camera,” she said. “Officers arrived five minutes later to find the camera pulled off its base. The ATV was described as light in colour and the driver was wearing a helmet at the time the community member drove by. Any found damage to the cameras is to be reported to the City of Greater Sudbury by reporting it through 311. If someone witnesses a crime in progress, they are asked to call police.”

Owen Gallupe, an associate professor in the department of sociology and legal studies at theUniversity of Waterloo, believes there is an element of ‘not me, never me’ present. He said the fact many people do not believe they will cause an accident means they remain resistant to the idea of speed cameras.

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“The individual perception is that they are there to cause problems — why should they pay a fine when they are not making things dangerous,” Gallupe said, adding the focus then shifts from safety to penalty. “People think, when they’re behind the wheel, ‘I’ll keep an eye out; I’m a safe driver and I can react to anything that happens, so why should I have to slow down or pay a fine if I’m driving safely, but slightly over the speed limit?’ There’s a rationality there.”

He also believes some residents may be bothered by the perceived intrusion of the cameras.

“People are creatures of habit, and this interrupts their habit,” he commented. “It’s an irritant and an annoyance, and it’s an annoyance that hits the pocketbook. That probably drives the animosity towards them.”

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Gallupe pointed to speed cameras that were formerly installed along Highway 401. While they were “very effective, they were widely hated. They made things safer, but they pissed people off.”

The six cameras in Greater Sudbury will be relocated in mid-July. The new locations include Garson Coniston Road; Howey Drive; two spots on Bancroft Drive; Moonlight Avenue; and Municipal Road 80.

Gallupe wonders how effective speed cameras are in the long run, after their locations have shifted.

“It’s likely to have immediate impacts while it’s there, but as soon as it moves, the old habits will return,” he said. “It’s not just Sudbury. We have speed cameras around here and once people find out where they are, they’ll grudgingly slow down.”

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A criminologist with two young children, Gallupe said he is happy the cameras exist and have appeared to slow speeders; however, he also understands the impulse to get irritated.

“I want people to drive slow, but I’m always a little leery when I hear speed cameras are going up because I don’t want to have to pay a fine for these. I imagine resistance to them is really widespread. I think it comes with not getting away with the things you want to get away with,” he noted. “It is legitimately making things safer, but the cost is, people resent it.”

Gallupe said residents need to ask themselves what they are willing to sacrifice for safety.

“They’re intrusive, but it raises the question — do you actually want your neighbourhoods to be safer, because these are probably effective at that,” he offered. “But yes, you have to accept the intrusion if that’s going to be the case.”

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