Newmarket drivers can expect to get tickets instead of warnings if they are caught speeding starting Oct. 19.
The municipality announced the warning letter period for its new automated speed enforcement system would come to an end Oct. 18. Now, speeders captured by the town’s 14 cameras will instead be fined based on their speed above the limit.
During the warning letter period over the past several weeks, the municipality issued approximately 2,500 letters, it said.
“Thank you to everyone who has made a conscious effort to slow down to protect your neighbourhood. To those who continue to speed, this is your last reminder to alter your driving habits and drive the speed limit to avoid getting a ticket,” Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said in a news release.
The cameras, two in each ward, are stationed in community safety zones near schools. They are part of the town’s efforts to address speeding in the community and come after York Region has piloted them for a few years.
The 14 cameras are located at:
- Ward 1: Stonehaven Avenue; Kingsmere Avenue
- Ward 2: Gorham Street; Srigley Street East
- Ward 3: Wayne Drive; Patterson Street
- Ward 4: Longford Drive; Bristol Road East
- Ward 5: Queen Street; William Roe Boulevard
- Ward 6: Savage Road; Clearmeadow Boulevard
- Ward 7: Woodspring Avenue East; Woodspring Avenue West
The fines will be set based on speed and distance travelled, getting progressively more costly:
- 1 to 19 kilometres per hour over the maximum speed limit, $5 per kilometre
- 20 to 29 kilometres per hour over the maximum speed limit, $7.50 per kilometre
- 30 to 39 kilometres per hour over the maximum speed limit, $12 per kilometre
- 50 kilometres per hour over the maximum speed limit, $19.50 per kilometre
Fines will be administered through the administrative monetary penalty system, with tickets issued within 23 days to the registered vehicle owner. The system does not use the court system but does allow for appeals.
Taylor said the objective is education.
“Our goal is not to issue tickets or punish drivers. Our goal is to educate and provide sufficient warning that speed cameras are in use,” Taylor said. “Please keep our town and your neighbourhood safe and drive the speed limit.”
Funds collected from the program will be used to offset the cost to run the program and other transportation initiatives, the town said.
You can find more information at newwmarket.ca/communitysafetycameras.
