Local speed camera snapped most violations in the city

By Wes Smiderle March 18, 2023

This City of Ottawa automated speed enforcement camera on St. Laurent Blvd., just south of Montreal Rd., racked up the most violations of any camera across the city. Photos: Doug Banks

The city’s busiest automated speed camera in 2022 is located a short drive south of Manor Park.

According to the City of Ottawa website Open Ottawa, the camera installed on the median on St. Laurent Blvd. between Noranda Ave. and Clarke Ave., had a total of 22,914 violations in 2022. Its busiest month was July at 6,226 violations.

Typically, automated speed cameras measure objects travelling away from them. In that case, the St. Laurent camera is monitoring southbound traffic.

It’s also located near a tree that suggests it might be partially obscured by leaves during the spring and summer.

Community safety zones

Speed cameras were introduced as a pilot project in 2020 with four cameras (two fixed and two rotating to difference locations). The program was made permanent in 2021, and the city plans to introduce more cameras over the coming years.

The city also uses red-light cameras to reduce “red light running”. The nearest red-light camera to Manor Park is on St. Laurent Blvd. at Montreal Rd.

Critics have called the speed cameras a ‘crash grab’.

On its website, the city describes them as a tool to reduce collisions. “In Ottawa, these cameras are located in certain community safety zones near schools where speeding is a risk to our most vulnerable road users, our children.”

Tickets accrued from the automated cameras are calculated like those issued by police officers. The amount is based on how much the travelling vehicle exceeded the posed speed limit.

Unlike those issued by officers, tickets from cameras carry no demerit points and are mailed within 30 days to the owner of the vehicle (not necessarily the person who was driving it).

Since all automated cameras are installed in designated “community safety zones,” the amount of the fine issued by the cameras is always doubled.

The St. Laurent camera is located near Queen Elizabeth Public School, which is between Noranda and Clarke.

The city intends to install 23 more cameras across the city this year. None of the planned locations are near the Manor Park area.