Drivers be warned, Barrie’s speed-camera locations have changed again.
The city’s two automated speed enforcement (ASE) camera zones are now eastbound on Little Avenue, near Assikinack Public School, and southbound on Prince William Way near Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School.
Barrie resident Colin McLarty says motorists should be ready for ASE zones, which have been rotated throughout the city since early December.
“With driving comes a responsibility to operate within the laws of our country,” he said. “As a driver, it is (their) responsibility to know, in this case, the legal speed limits. If you break the law, pay the price.
“The objective of the speed cameras is to drive home the purpose of obeying the laws, saving lives … as a last resort, through your wallet,” McLarty added. “Don’t like it … slow down, or continue, and eventually you may be walking.”
The cameras were previously located southbound on Leacock Drive, near St. Mary's Catholic School, and eastbound on Cundles Road East, near St. Joseph's Catholic High School and Frère-André Catholic Elementary School.
Until the kids go back to school in September, however, Barrie’s two ASE camera zones have had their speed limit increased from 40 to 50 kilometres an hour — where it will stay until classes begin again, and 40 km/h is once again the speed limit in ASE zones, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
And there are more revisions coming to ASE when the seasons change.
In June, city council approved leasing two more speed cameras, which will give Barrie four instead of two speed-camera zones for ticketing, as each location requires one camera.
The cost of leasing two more cameras will be funded through city revenue from the ASE program.
The average ticket fine has been about $90.
Mayor Alex Nuttall has justified doubling the city’s ASE cameras, and zones, by noting there’s been a major speed reduction in the areas where the city put speed cameras. Barrie will go to four ASE cameras and locations, from two, sometime this fall, Nuttall has said.
'Municipal Speed Camera in Use' signs are installed when cameras are active and tickets are being issued.
Barrie’s speed cameras were first located eastbound on Big Bay Point Road, near Willow Landing and St. Michael the Archangel Catholic elementary schools, and southbound on Anne Street North, near Portage View and Nouvelle-Alliance schools, from last Dec. 1 until Feb. 18.
ASE cameras were then catching speeders northbound on Essa Road near Timothy Christian School, and westbound on Ardagh Road in the vicinity of Heritage Baptist Church, beginning at the end of February.
Cameras in Barrie’s first two locations were successful in significantly reduced speeding there, when compared to the use of flashing 40-km/h lights. During peak school hours, speeds were reduced by 12 km/h at the Big Bay Point Road location and 13 km/h at the Anne Street location. This reduction is compared to speeds during peak school hours when the flashing 40-km/h lights were in use.
When cameras are in use, there’s a sign indicating how the speed limit can differ depending on the time of year, the day and time of day — related to times when children are attending schools.
The reduced speed limit of 40 km/h is in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, Sept. 1 to June 30, in all variable time flashing zones or when an automated speed-enforcement camera is in use.
The ASE camera is triggered by a threshold speed. The city says threshold speeds will not be disclosed.
