Officials Deny Controversial Photo Radar System Is Returning

After being grounded by lack of funds in 1981, the Ontario, Canada, government is giving the Ontario Provincial Police $2 million for a plane for an aerial highway traffic patrol program.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty made the announcement of the allocation Wednesday. The money is intended to purchase a plane equipped with surveillance equipment and to hire 55 more patrol officers all meant to crack down on speeding and curtail dangerous driving, according to the Toronto Globe and Mail.

OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino has been requesting the aircraft for quite some time and refutes critics' claims he is bringing back the reviled photo radar system that was discontinued in 1995.

Former Toronto police chief and new Democratic member of the legislature, Peter Kormos, believes McGuinty is caving to pressure from Fantino. Kormos was unsuccessful in his attempts to bring back the police air force during his days as chief.

"Fantino wanted a plane. Dalton McGuinty got him one," Mr. Kormos said. "It's the eye in the sky. The plane is photo radar with wings."
Kormos wonders how effective the program will be with a single aircraft.

"One plane is going to be hard pressed to deal with thousands of kilometers of heavily travelled highway, so let's not try to pretend that this is any sort of panacea," he said.

McGuinty further announced a package of measures intended to help fight speeding in the province, speculated to be in preparation for the Oct. 10 provincial elections. "We can't afford not to do it, given the extent of dangerous speeding on our roads," he said.

"Working with police over the last four years, we've made real progress when it comes to curbing dangerous driving," said McGuinty. "...[W]e're moving forward, together. And we're being clear - if you're reckless on our roads, if you choose to break the law, we consider you a threat to our public safety and you're going to face stiff penalties."

Fantino said the aircraft will be used primarily in the area's "hot spots."

"The addition of these new officers will help us make Ontario's highways safer by enabling us to clear crash scenes more quickly while safeguarding both officers and the public," said Fantino. "By adding aerial traffic support we will be able to target aggressive drivers and street racers."

Howard Hampton, the new Democrat Leader wants the controversial photo radar reinstated. Former NDP premier Bob Rae launched the system in 1994. A camera, activated by a speed gun, snapped a picture of the speeding vehicle.

Even though more than 240,000 tickets were issued with fines totalling more than $16-million, the program was stopped in 2005 by the Progressive Conservatives saying it wasn't really effective because drivers weren't stopped and tickets were issued to the car's owner, not the driver. No demerit points were issued, either, and a speeder's insurance rates weren't affected.

The McGuinty government refused to bring the program back in 2004.

FMI: www.opp.ca, www.premier.gov.on.ca