Automated Speed Enforcement Program

Overview of the Automated Speed Enforcement Program

In 2019, the Ontario Government enacted O. Reg 398/19, which permits municipalities to implement Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) in designated Community Safety Zones and School Zones.

ASE, commonly referred to as Photo Radar, is a system that utilizes a camera and speed measurement technology to identify and photograph vehicles exceeding the posted speed limits. The primary goal of ASE is to change driver behaviour by reducing speeding and improving community safety.

During the Council meeting on April 2, 2025, the Township of Severn approved the Administrative Penalty By-law for Contraventions Detected Using Camera Systems (By-law 2025-26).  

How Automated Speed Enforcement works

When a vehicle exceeds the speed limit in an ASE zone, the system captures an image of the violation. A Provincial Offences Officer then reviews the image and issues a Penalty Order (ticket). This Penalty Order, which includes a digital copy of the image and an enlarged view of the licence plate, is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle within 30 days of the incident.

Penalty Orders are directed to the registered vehicle owner, who may not be the individual who was driving at the time. Importantly, no demerit points will be assigned, and the driving record of the registered owner will remain unaffected.

The ASE Program operates in community safety zones within the municipality where speeding has been identified as an on-going issue. These zones are identified within the Community Safety Zone By-law (By-law 2025-27). 

Provincial legislation permits municipalities to create by-laws that permit the use of ASE units exclusively in school zones and community safety zones. A community safety zone is an area designated through a by-law that identifies it as a road segment of higher risk or concern.

Certain Highway Traffic Act fines (including speeding) are doubled in community safety zones, which are mostly located close to schools and school zones.

Severn Program Rollout Locations

• Division Road West (Marchmont Public School)
• Gray Street (Coldwater Public School)
• Cumberland Road (Severn Shores Public School)
• Coldwater Road 
• Muskoka Street north
• River Street
• Burnside Line

Ramara Program Rollout Locations

ASE enforcement will be implemented in two phases:

Orillia Program Rollout Locations

In Oro-Medonte

Community Safety Zone Implementation

The Township is taking proactive steps to establish Community Safety Zones (CSZ’s) throughout identified areas in Oro-Medonte, with the goal of changing driver behaviour, including speed reduction. The Highway Traffic Act defines a CSZ as “a section of roadway where public safety is of special concern.” Through dedicated signage, these zones make drivers aware they are within an area where traffic safety violations can result in doubling of fines, and demerit points associated with speeding or sign violations.

CSZ’s provide an environment to improve safety on certain sections of road where public safety is of particular concern. It is important to understand that rules of the road don’t change within CSZ’s.

Choosing a Community Safety Zone

CSZ’s will be established in areas throughout the community which are of high priority and obvious to drivers and pedestrians. The Township considered a number of factors when determining appropriate locations for the establishment of CSZ’s in Oro-Medonte including areas:

• adjacent to elementary or secondary schools;
• adjacent to senior’s centres and institutions;
• adjacent to hospitals or medical centres; and
• adjacent to township-wide/regional parks and community parks as defined in the Township’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan.