By Declan Finucane Posted September 19, 2022 at 2:47 pm This speed camera was spray painted and overturned in the Clarkson area of MIssissauga. Several speed cameras installed by the city of Mississauga in an effort to slow down drivers have recently been vandalized, prompting at least one city councilor to publicly chastise those responsible. “What an absolute disgrace… Everyone complains about speeding in our community and when we do our best to try to control it, THIS happens,” Mississauga Ward 10 Councilor Sue McFadden wrote in a Facebook post yesterday ( September 18). showing a speed camera on Churchill Meadows Blvd. partially covered in what appears to be black spray paint. “I will remove all the paint as soon as possible and the camera will remain on Churchill Meadows Blvd. I hope the camera caught who did this! Not to mention the cost to taxpayers to clean this up…” Dozens of people commented on the city council’s post, most if not all condemning the vandalism of the cameras deployed through the city’s Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) camera program. “What a disgraceful act,” one person succinctly commented. Another short answer noted that, “This costs (the) time as well as money.” This speed camera on Churchill Meadows Blvd. recently spray painted. (Photo: Sue McFadden Facebook Advisor) One commenter, while denouncing both speeding and vandalism, took the opportunity to suggest that “…the fines are horrendous…and too high for most people who are struggling to pay their bills and get by in today’s world ». One man who commented addressed McFadden directly, saying that these types of incidents don’t just happen in a small area of town. “I’ve noticed a lot of places in the city of Mississauga” where you’ll find black spray paint on the cameras, which have then been thrown on the ground. One such vandalized ASE camera was spotted by a south Mississauga resident, who took photos of the dump truck and spray painted it. According to City numbers released this summer, while the ASE program has paid out more than $1 million in fines and been somewhat effective in reducing the number of speeders, it is losing money. A June 3 report from city transportation and labor staff notes that while the AX camera program has reduced speeding in and around school zones, it is also costing the City money due to fine collection issues. The ASE program began in the summer of 2021, and as of April 9 of this year, all 22 cameras were “operational and enforcing posted speed limits within school neighborhood area community safety zones” across the city. Cameras rotate between multiple locations as needed. insauga editorial standards and advertising policies
