Do speed camera tickets still need to be paid in Ontario?

The Ford government’s speed camera ban takes effect across Ontario on Friday.

Premier Doug Ford has called the devices a “cash grab” and said that other measures would be more effective, including large signs, speed bumps, raised crosswalks, and more.

The decision to completely ban the devices has received plenty of criticism.

Ford has said speed cameras don’t work to slow drivers down — though evidence collected by municipalities and Hospital for Sick Children researchers says otherwise.

More than 20 mayors had urged Ford to tweak the program instead of scrapping it entirely, noting that the move means road safety measures in their communities will now be funded by all taxpayers instead of by drivers breaking the law by speeding.

READ MORE: Ontario to spend $210M on non-speed camera road safety measures following ban

On Thursday, the province announced one-time funding of $210 million through the “Road Safety Initiatives Fund” for municipalities that previously used speed cameras to implement safety measures.

That includes speed bumps, raised crosswalks, roundabouts, signage, and more police enforcement in school zones and community safety zones where speed cameras were previously used, a news release from the province said.

“Our government is standing up for drivers by banning cash-grab speed cameras and supporting proven road safety measures that will make a real difference,” Transport Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said in the release.

“Ontario has some of the safest roads in North America and our new Road Safety Initiatives Fund will build on this record by ensuring municipalities have the resources they need to implement proven traffic-calming measures without making life more expensive for drivers.”

The minister previously said that large, temporary signage would be implemented in “municipal speed camera-impacted zones” before the ban takes effect.

Speed cameras have still been allowed to operate

Although the bill that included the speed camera ban passed last month and received Royal Assent on Nov. 3, the ban takes effect on Friday and speed cameras have still been able to operate across the province over the past couple of weeks.

In Mississauga, for example, the City said its 22 automated speed cameras would continue issuing tickets right up until the end of the day Thursday.

“Effective Nov. 14, 2025, municipalities will no longer be permitted to issue any Provincial Offences Act tickets or administrative penalty orders for speeding offences captured using automatic speed cameras that occur on, or after, that date,” said Dakota Brasier, director of media relations for the transport minister’s office.

What happens to offences that occurred before Nov. 14?

If you commit a speeding offence before the ban takes effect and that’s captured by a speed camera, however, the ticket will still be valid.

And since tickets are sent by mail, it might take some time before the last of the fines reach drivers.

“Anything in advance of (the) cameras being turned off still needs to be paid,” Brasier said.

Speed camera tickets are issued to the registered owner of the vehicle and no demerit points are issued.

Meanwhile, red light cameras will remain active in the province.

— With files from The Canadian Press and Karen Longwell