Paterson expresses regret as Kingston speed camera program winds down

The pilot first launched in Sept. 2024.

"It was never a cash-grab."

That was what Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson had to say to Reid and Ben Friday morning after the City announced that their speed camera (or photo radar) pilot program will end this Friday.

Paterson was on the 98.3 FLY FM morning show to address the city's use of the cameras. He maintains that the cameras were meant for speed enforcement in school zones.

Paterson wouldn't identify municipalities but did acknowledge that some were using the cameras more for revenue generating than for keeping neighbourhoods safe.

Paterson had expressed his disappointment at the decision by the Ford government back in September to ban the use of cameras for speed enforcement. 

The Province said the money that was being put towards the cameras would instead be directed towards other safety measures.

Paterson hopes the Province will keep their word.

In the meantime, the City is preparing to wind down the speed camera enforcement program this Friday. Until then,  they will continue to issue notices of infraction to drivers who were caught by the cameras.

Paterson maintains it was a revenue-neutral program and it won't have any financial impact when it comes to the budget.

The program will end more than a year after it first launched.

Story by Ken Hashizume with files from Alyssa Brush