Automated Speed Enforcement

What is the maximum number of tickets someone can receive?
There is no maximum number of tickets someone can receive. A ticket will be issued to the registered plate owner each time their vehicle exceeds the speed limit when a municipal speed camera is in use. The best way to avoid a ticket is to obey the posted speed limits. They are the law, not a guideline.

How are automated speed enforcement tickets 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 ticket, which contains a digitized copy of the image and an enlargement of the license plate image, is mailed to the registered plate owner. On conviction, the penalty is a fine, no demerit points are applied. 

What are the fines associated with an automated speed enforcement ticket? 
Tickets issued for speeding when detected through automated speed enforcement clearly indicate the set fine, which is determined by the Chief Judge of the Ontario Court of Justice and is specific to the rate of speed over the speed limit the vehicle was travelling at the time the image was taken. ASE fines include the set fine amount, court costs and applicable victim fine surcharge. The set fine is specific to the rate of seed 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 at the Ontario Regulation 355/22 page, under the Highway Traffic Act.

How do I pay an automated speed enforcement fine?

If the location code on your ticket is 4960 or 4961, payments can be made in one of four (4) ways:

1. Online with VISA or MASTERCARD at paytickets.ca
2. Mail: To pay by credit card, fill out the Pre-Authorized Payment Form, or provide a cheque or money order made payable to The Regional Municipality of York and return by mail to:
   
   The Regional Municipality of York Provincial Offences Office
   17150 Yonge St, 2nd Floor, Newmarket, ON L3Y 8V3
    
3. Phone:  905-898-0425 with VISA or MASTERCARD
4. In-person at the Newmarket Provincial Offences Court located at 17150 Yonge St., 2nd Floor, Newmarket, or any Provincial Offences Office in Ontario.

For more information and complete mailing addresses, visit york.ca/courts

Will a ticket affect my insurance?
Since penalty orders go to the vehicle’s registered owner, the driver responsible for the infraction does not receive demerit points.

Will automated speed enforcement tickets affect driver/owner records such a demerit points?
No. Since the ticket is issued to the registered plate holder and not the driver, no demerit points can be applied.

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 stored on a secure device, then transported to a processing centre in a locked container. Only a provincial offences officer has the key to a locked container and only the automated speed enforcement image processing software can use the encrypted data. Once the data has been downloaded, all recorded data on the storage unit is erased.

Who is issued the ticket? 
The ticket is issued to the registered plate holder of the vehicle, even if they were not the one driving. An offence notice is mailed within 30 days of the violation.

If someone receives a ticket, what is the process? What are their options?

If someone receives a ticket, the options will be included in more detail on the ticket. However, there are three basic options:

1. Pay the fine according to the instructions on the ticket.
2. Request to attend court to plead not guilty and have a trial.
3. Request to attend court to plead guilty and request a longer time to pay.

It is important to note that if one of the options is not exercised within 15 days of receiving the notice, it will be deemed that the registered plate holder does not wish to dispute the charge and a justice may enter a conviction.

What happens with a conviction? 
Upon conviction, additional costs will be added to the total payable indicated on the ticket. If the fine goes into default an additional administrative fee will be added and the information may be reported to a collection agency. This may affect the person’s ability to renew their vehicle permit or their permit could be refused until the ticket and all additional charges are paid.

How will Ontario’s court system handle the new charges associated with automated speed enforcement? 
All automated speed enforcement tickets will be processed through the Provincial Offences Court, the same as any other speeding or traffic-related offence.

Why does the registered plate holder receive the ticket 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. Given the restrictions of the image capture technology, a ticket can only be issued to the registered plate holder, not the person responsible for the infraction.

If the ticket 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.

Can an emergency vehicle receive a ticket? 
Yes. Since the automated speed enforcement system is automated, it is triggered by any motor vehicle exceeding the speed limit in a community safety zone.

Is there a speed threshold before receiving a ticket? 
Speed limits are the law. Drivers who obey the law will not receive a ticket.

View PDF version of map.
Accessible formats or communication supports are available upon request.

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​​​​​​

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.

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 ticket, 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 tickets 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.

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 ticket 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 as well as images?
No. This is not a video-based system. Only a still image of the motor vehicle and license plate is captured.

How do I find the Certificates of Accuracy? 
To view the Certificate of Accuracy that ensures each ASE mobile camera is accurately reading speeds, visit City of Toronto's Certificate of Accuracy webpage. Search by municipality to find certificates for ASE cameras on York Regional roads.