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Three more of the pole-mounted devices have since been felled, the Star has learned.

The latest incidents bring the number of speed cameras brought down in the past two weeks to 20, amid a charged political fight over the devices, which experts say reduce speeding but which the premier of Ontario has called a loathsome tax grab.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, two speed cameras were cut down on Avenue Road, one near Oaklands Avenue and the other near Castlefield Avenue. Another camera, near Mount Pleasant Road and South Drive, was also vandalized. The Parkside Drive speed camera was taken down for a seventh time on Sept. 7.

Amid the continuing damage, a police officer was spotted this week with a radar gun on Parkside Drive, a sign of interim police enforcement efforts.

“As (º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøpolice Chief Myron Demkiw) said last week … we will be deploying officers to do enforcement in those areas where cameras have been cut down,” said Nadine Ramadan, a senior communications adviser for º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøpolice. “We’re going to complement the efforts of the city through Vision Zero with our efforts in enforcement.”

The city is looking into ways to help keep more speed cameras in service, “including remote monitoring of the camera systems, … stronger poles for permanent cameras and other measures,” said Laura McQuillan, a municipal spokesperson.

Speed camera company cites ‘few bad actors’

Redflex Traffic Systems, which is responsible for maintaining and repairing the city’s cameras, has 30 business days, per its contract, to replace downed devices.

The company has been busy, and, according to its Canadian head, it is glad the investigation of the incidents has been escalated by authorities.

“There are a few bad actors that are causing flagrant destruction at this point, and now this is being prioritized by the city and the police department because these are crimes,” said Matt Lumsden, business development manager for Canada, Redflex Traffic Systems.

The city’s $36-million contract with Redflex is in effect until 2029. The continuing issues could make the city’s next maintenance contract more expensive.

“The current contract with the city puts the responsibility of the cameras with us, and we’re committed to reinstalling these cameras as soon as possible at no additional cost to cities and taxpayers,” said Lumsden. “We’ll address future contract potential when we get there.”

Lumsden scoffed at the praise the vandals have received online, which has included Robin Hood-like characterizations.

“Robin Hood was someone who took from the rich and gave to the poor, and these are people that are destroying a tool that’s used to protect vulnerable populations’ lives.”

Police chiefs support speed cameras, despite Ford comments

The premier has said it’s time for Ontario municipalities, including Toronto, to ditch speed cameras.

Doug Ford said last week that, if they don’t, he would “help them get rid of them, very shortly.”

In the wake of those comments, Vaughan city council voted this week to get rid of the 10 speed cameras installed in the city in May. In their first three weeks of service, more than 32,000 tickets were issued, triggering complaints from residents.

Among the reasons cited in the controversial vote, Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca said he wanted police to focus on “real criminals” and that they were concerned about the effect the fines have on people in a difficult economy.

º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøMayor Olivia Chow has called the devices safety tools and condemned the “lawlessness” of their destruction.

On Thursday, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police released a statement saying it is in favour of using automated speed enforcement (ASE) tools.

“Ontario’s police leaders view ASE not as a revenue tool, but as a traffic safety tool. Its purpose is deterrence and prevention — helping to change driver behaviour and reduce collisions.”

There are still speed cameras in Vaughan

While Vaughan is getting rid of its speed cameras, there are still cameras in the city operated by York Region. On Tuesday, the municipality released early data indicating the cameras are having a positive effect on the regional roads they are monitoring.

Data from York Region’s 20 cameras, in place since January, revealed that where cameras are active, vehicle speeds decrease by an average of 15 km/h, and compliance with posted speed limits increases by 25 per cent.

By year’s end, total collisions are projected to be 53 per cent lower, from 175 annually to 93.

As well, severe collisions with serious injuries have declined significantly, down from an annual average of 39 to eight, and penalties have decreased by 35 per cent since January.