TORONTO, (Aug. 10, 2004) — Cities and municipalities around Ontario have been approved by the province to install red-light cameras at intersections and collect fines from offending vehicle operators.

The Toronto Star reports that Ontario Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar and Municipal Affairs Minister John Gerretsen will make the official announcement to today.

Municipalities have been lobbying to make the pilot project in Toronto permanent. They also wanted the authority to make their own decision on red-light cameras, and to put the money generated by fines into their own coffers. Under the existing Highway Traffic Act, revenue from traffic fines goes to the province.

While the announcement does not mean the province will fund the cameras, Queen’s Park will still regulate their use.

Although 38 intersections in Toronto are designated, the city has only 10 cameras, which are rotated through the intersections. They photograph vehicles that enter after a red light. A trained officer reviews the pictures and a $190 ticket is mailed to the owners.

Sources told the newspaper that the cameras will be easier to spot. There will either be big signs warning motorists of the red-light cameras or the box holding the camera will be a bright colour, such as yellow.

— from the Toronto Star