Automated Speed Enforcement

Is there a speed threshold before receiving a penalty order? 
The posted maximum speed limit on the street is set for everyone’s safety and avoids receiving a penalty.

Who is issued the penalty order? 
The penalty order is issued to the registered plate holder of the vehicle, even if they were not the one driving.

What do I do if I lose my penalty order? 
For privacy and security, both the penalty order number and the license plate are required to look up a penalty order. If you have lost your penalty order, the registered plate owner can contact the Administrative Penalty Tribunal at 1-888-448-0000 for assistance.

What options does someone have if they receive a penalty order?
There are two options:

1. Individuals must pay the penalty order within 30 days of the deemed service date of the penalty order.  
2. To dispute a penalty order, individuals must request a screening review within 30 days of the penalty order's deemed service date included in the penalty order. 

What is the maximum number of penalty orders someone can receive?
There is no maximum number of penalty orders someone can receive. A penalty order will be issued to the registered plate owner each time their vehicle exceeds the speed limit when a municipal speed camera is in use.

How are automated speed enforcement penalty orders processed?
After the automated speed enforcement system captures an image of a vehicle exceeding the speed limit, the image is sent to a processing centre to be reviewed by a provincial offences officer. The penalty order, which contains a digitized copy of the image and an enlargement of the license plate image, is mailed to the registered plate owner.

What are the monetary amounts associated with an automated speed enforcement penalty order? 
There is a set fine, which is determined by the Chief Judge of the Ontario Court of Justice. ASE fines include the set fine amount, court costs and applicable victim fine surcharge. The set fine is specific to the rate of speed over the speed limit the vehicle was travelling at the time the image was taken. For example, within a Community Safety Zone, set fines are:

• 1-19 km/h over the maximum speed limit is $5.00 per km
• 20-29 km/h over the maximum speed limit is $7.50 per km
• 30-49 km/h over the maximum speed limit is $12.00 per km
• 50 km/h or more over the maximum speed limit is $19.50 per km

More information can be found on the Ontario Regulation 355/22 page, under the Highway Traffic Act.

How do I pay an automated speed enforcement penalty order?
To pay and automated speed enforcement penalty order, please visit York.ca/PayMyPenalty 

Will a ticket affect my insurance?
No. Since penalty orders go to the vehicle’s registered owner, the driver responsible for the infraction does not receive demerit points. 

How will privacy for the information collected by the automated speed enforcement system be maintained? 
The data collected by the automated speed enforcement system is encrypted and can only be accessed by an image processing software by a provincial offence officer.

What happens if I do not pay my penalty order?
If you don't pay your penalty order within 30 days of the deemed service or following a screening or hearing review decision, additional costs will be added. A $20.00 administrative fee and Ministry of Transportation fees will be applied. Also, it may result in a plate denial, meaning you could be unable to renew your vehicle permit until the penalty order and any additional charges are fully paid.

Why does the registered plate holder receive the penalty order instead of the person who was driving when the ticket was issued? 
The technology does not capture images of the driver, only the license plate. Therefore, a penalty order can only be issued to the registered plate holder.

Why is there a victim surcharge on these penalty orders?   
As per Ontario Regulation 355/22, municipalities that operate administrative penalties under this regulation are required to collect and submit Victim Component fees to the Ministry of the Attorney General. These fees are collected to support services and programs for victims of crime.

Why is there a license plate search fee on these penalty orders?
Just like the victim surcharge, the license plate search fee is set by the Province. It covers the cost for authorized personnel to access the name and latest address of the person subject to the penalty order. This is also covered under Ontario Regulation 355/22.

If the penalty order goes to the registered plate holder, what about people who lease or rent cars?
Most rental agreements include a clause that enables rental agencies to pass any fines incurred to the driver.

What is the contact information for the Administrative Penalties Tribunal? 
Phone: 1-888-448-0000
E-mail: @email
Website: york.ca/PayMyPenalty
In-person: 17150 Yonge Street, 2nd Floor, Newmarket

Note: Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) warning signs will be in place 90 days in advance of camera activation and will be replaced with regulatory camera in-use signs when activated. The ASE schedule is approximate.

2023 Collisions

• There were 298 collisions involving pedestrians in York Region (on both Regional and local roads)
• 94% of collisions involving pedestrians resulted in injuries or fatalities
• 89% percent of collisions involving cyclists resulted in injuries or fatalities
• Pedestrians or cyclists were involved in 3% of all collisions

Traffic Offences

• Over the past 2 years, approximately 30% of fatal collisions were related to speeding
• In 2023, speeding continued to be the top traffic violation in the Region. Over 18,000 speeding charges were issued, representing more than 80% of all traffic offences issued
• York Regional Police enforcement traffic offences issued:
  • 18,245 for speeding
  • 1,885 for impaired driving
  • 1,087 stunt driving (40 km/hr over the posted speed limit)
  • 729 distracted driving
  • 431 not wearing a seat belt
  • 117 failed to move over for emergency vehicles

ASE and Administrative Penalty System – Council Report - June 2022

ASE Pilot Program Update – Council Memo - November 2021

ASE Update – Council Memo - November 2020

ASE Update – Council Memo - June 2020

ASE Update – Council Report - January 2020

ASE – Council Report - October 2019​​​​

ASE Update – Council Memo - June 2019​​​​​​

Why is the automated speed enforcement program being expanded?  
Aggressive driving (including speeding) collisions represent 45% of severe collisions on Regional roads. Automated speed enforcement is a safety tool that has been shown to influence driver behaviour, helping to decrease speeding and increase safety.  

It is a cost-effective tool that supplements traditional speed enforcement and can create revenue to further invest in traveller safety programs.  

Where is automated speed enforcement being implemented in York Region?
York Region has prioritized nine locations including 14 school areas in 2024. There will be three ASE mobile cameras and they will be rotated every three months among the locations shown on the map.

In addition, 20 ASE fixed cameras will be installed in community safety zones across the Region by the end of 2024. Another 40 fixed cameras are expected to be installed by the end of 2026. Camera locations will be published on this webpage and signage will be posted on-street.  

As required by Article 12 of the Automated Speed Enforcement Administrative Penalty Agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (Appendix C), York Region will post the following signage at least 90 days prior to accessing licensed information and for the purpose of advising the public of the implementation in advance of every location within the municipality where cameras are intended to be deployed. 

Once the automated speed enforcement camera is in use, HTA O. Reg. 398/19, section 8 requires the sign below to be displayed at the location at which it is in use:  

When are the 20 new ASE cameras considered active and issuing penalty orders?
The ASE cameras begin enforcing speed limits when camera in-use signs are installed on street. 20 cameras are being activated in December 2024. The interactive map is updated on an ongoing basis, with active cameras shown as green.

Where will the additional 40 cameras be placed?
York Region’s ASE program will cover all school zones on Regional roads by 2027.

How does Automated Speed Enforcement work?
The automated speed enforcement system is comprised of three main parts:

1. A speed measurement component.
2. A data processing/storage component.
3. An image capture component that includes a data box with the posted speed limit, speed of vehicle, location, time of day and other information.

The system uses a camera and speed measurement device to enforce speed limits in identified areas. If a vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit in an automated speed enforcement area, the system captures an image that is stored and reviewed by a provincial offences officer. The penalty order, which contains a digitized copy of the image and an enlargement of the license plate, is mailed to the registered plate holder within 30 days of the offence, outlining next steps and the cost of the associated fine. Automated speed enforcement-associated penalty orders will not result in demerit points.

Why was automated speed enforcement implemented in York Region? 
At the November 5, 2020 meeting of York Regional Council, it was confirmed that automated speed enforcement was starting in select school areas. A two-year pilot project began to determine the capacity of provincial courts to process the infractions, as well as a trial for the technology being used.

Speeding around schools puts the lives of the most vulnerable at unnecessary risk. The goal of automated speed enforcement is to increase safety in school areas and community safety zones while also changing driver behaviour. More than half of fatal collisions on Regional roads are related to speeding. Automated Speed Enforcement is a new tool to improve road safety and change driver behaviour.

More recently, York Regional Council approved 60 additional fixed ASE cameras, increasing red-light cameras from 40 to 55 by 2026, the opening of a York Region Processing Centre for infractions and the creation of an Administrative Penalty Tribunal.  

What is the difference between the York Region ASE program and local municipal ASE programs?  
York Region’s ASE program only applies to the Regional road network, meaning ASE cameras will only be installed on regionally owned roads.  

Local cities and towns are permitted to operate their own municipal ASE program but would deploy ASE cameras on roads owned by the local municipality.  

The penalty fee schedule is set by the Province of Ontario so fines will be the same for all ASE infractions, however, the penalty notices issued by the Region and local municipalities may look different.  

Regional ASE infractions will need to be addressed with York Region and municipal ASE infractions will need to be addressed with the local municipality.  

Local municipal ASE programs are listed below:  

• City of Vaughan Automated Speed Enforcement Program
• Town of Newmarket Automated Speed Enforcement Program
• Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Automated Speed Enforcement Program (coming in 2025) 

Where can automated speed enforcement be implemented?
Under the Highway Traffic Act, automated speed enforcement can only be authorized for use in school areas and community safety zones.

What is a community safety zone?
A community safety zone is an area designated through a by-law passed by municipal council to identify and advise motorists they are within a zone where public safety is of special concern including school areas. Certain Highway Traffic Act fines (including speeding) are doubled in community safety zones.

How will automated speed enforcement reduce road-related injuries and deaths?
Using technology that supports road safety can help alter driver behaviour and enforce speed limits in school areas. Automated speed enforcement is one approach to protecting children and other vulnerable road users.

How do we know automated speed enforcement will be effective? 
Several other cities across North America have utilized automated speed enforcement as a tool with great success. The use of automated speed enforcement has resulted in better speed compliance, fewer collisions and less severity in the collisions that do occur.

Examples include:

• In 2016, Quebec reported average speeds reduced by 13.3 km/h and collisions reduced by 15 to 42% at automated speed enforcement sites
• Saskatchewan saw an overall reduction of speed in school areas. The average speed fell by 17% and speed-related casualty collisions fell by 63%, which resulted in 51% fewer injuries. 56% of Saskatchewan residents wanted the automated speed enforcement program to continue, with 93% of them wanting the program to expand
• New York City saw speeding reduced by 63% and pedestrian injuries reduced by 23% in automated speed enforcement areas

Does the automated speed enforcement system adjust during time-of-day restrictions?
The ASE system adjusts itself to accommodate time-of-day speed reduction in school zones. Driving below or at the speed limit will ensure a penalty is not issued.

Does the ASE system only capture images during the time-of-day restriction?
The ASE system operates 24-7 and it will capture images at all times of the day.

How will drivers know that a location is equipped with automated speed enforcement?
Automated speed enforcement is about safety and transparency. Clear signage will be posted in each school area indicating it will be an automated speed enforcement area. Municipal speed camera coming soon signs will be installed 90 days in advance of cameras being installed to let motorists know an automated speed enforcement system will be installed. Once the cameras are installed, the sign will be replaced to notify drivers municipal speed cameras are in use.

How accurate is the automated speed enforcement system at detecting speed?
Automated speed enforcement is just as accurate at detecting speed as traditional speed measurement devices used by police.

Does the automated speed enforcement system capture and store video footage and images?
No. This is not a video-based system. Only a still image of the motor vehicle and license plate is captured.

Does the automated speed enforcement system take photos of cars going the same direction as the camera?
The camera technology is capable of enforcing speed in both directions. To avoid receiving a ticket from the ASE camera, please comply with the speed limit while driving in all directions.