‘Ditch the speed cameras’ petition now at over 5K signatures in Brampton

A petition calling for the removal of all speed cameras in Brampton has gained nearly 10 times the amount of signatures in a week with over 5,000 signers, while other residents say the cameras are helping deter speeders.

With some 150 automated cameras already in place, the City of Brampton is moving closer to its goal of installing 185 cameras by the end of summer.

Fifty new Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras came online across Brampton last month, but a petition launched in July is calling for “the immediate removal” of all speed enforcement cameras in the city, saying the increase in ASE cameras has led to residents “living under constant surveillance.”

The petition had some support with around 540 signatures on July 9, but has since grown to nearly 5,200 signatures by Friday at around 2 p.m.

In an update on Change.org, petition organizer Carolina Cutruzzola says she’s pushing for more signatures before September when she plans to present the petition to Brampton City Council.

But some users on social media are calling out the petition, saying the city needs more speed deterrents.

“If you can’t handle something as simple as driving under the speed limit, how did you get your license in the first place?” one user wrote on a Reddit post alerting residents to the petition. “We need these literally everywhere, and also red light cameras.”

“Photo radar is a voluntary tax. I support any tax I have the choice to pay, or not,” wrote another.

Speed cameras can be found in Community Safety Zones and common problem areas around Brampton. Fines increase depending on the driver’s speed, with the lowest rate being $5 per kilometre plus costs for drivers speeding between 1 and 19 km over the limit, ranging up to $19.50 per kilometre.

Brampton City Council approved the hiring dozens of new enforcement officers in 2024 and more than triple the number of speed cameras on the roads, with a report showing the amendments would cost some $5.97 million.

ASE ticketing was also brought in-house when the new processing centre opened in Brampton last year, following a move from Toronto that the city says will help deter speeding, increase road safety, and create more revenue.