Red Light Cameras
Red Light Cameras
Improving intersection safety
Red-light cameras are identified as a priority safety countermeasure to reduce T-bone collisions at intersections in Durham's Strategic Road Safety Action Plan. Red-light running has the potential to cause serious injury or death for both the offending driver and innocent victims. The Region’s collision records database contains 658 collisions over a three year period (2021-2023) at signalized intersections where the cause was specifically attributed to a driver disobeying traffic control indications. Many of these collisions resulted in significant injuries and occasionally death.
Red-light cameras have been operational in the Province of Ontario since 1999. Durham Region is one of many municipalities across Ontario using red light cameras to create safer roads.
This initiative is in support of Durham Vision Zero, a long-term plan to ensure a safe transportation system that sees no lives lost or serious injuries on Durham’s roadways.
| How it works |
| The red-light camera program is intended to modify aggressive driving behaviour and increase awareness of the dangers of running red lights. Red-light cameras are mounted on poles at an intersection near the traffic lights with signs preceding the equipment.
The red-light camera takes two photographs. The first photo is taken when a vehicle is behind the stop bar and about to enter the intersection when the traffic signal is red. The second photo is taken when the vehicle is within the intersection. To capture the license plate, both photos show the rear of the vehicle only. The violation notice sent to the registered owner includes both photos in addition to an enlarged photograph of the rear license plate of the vehicle. Vehicles that progress through the intersection on a green or amber light will not be ticketed. |
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Fines |
| The fine for running a red light in Ontario (issued by a red-light camera or otherwise) is $325. Offence notices are generated and distributed to the registered owner of the vehicle. As a vehicle-based offence, no demerit points are issued as the driver of the vehicle is not known. |
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Locations |
Durham Region worked with a consultant to review data from all 623 signalized intersections across the Region concentrating on intersections with a high volume of right-angle (T-bone) collisions. Based on that review, the following 12 locations were selected for the installation of red-light cameras:
As the Region gains more experience operating red-light cameras, additional sites may be added in the future. |
Frequently Asked Questions
| What is red light running? |
| It is a violation that occurs when a driver enters the intersection after the traffic signal has turned red. Running red lights is illegal and unsafe. |
| How do red light cameras work? |
| The red-light camera program is designed to modify aggressive driving behaviour and increase awareness of the dangers of running red lights.
The red-light camera takes two photographs. The first photo is taken when a vehicle is behind the stop bar and about to enter the intersection when the traffic signal is red. The second photo is taken when the vehicle is within the intersection and the traffic signal is red. To capture the license plate, both photos show the rear of the vehicle only. A driver that enters the intersection on a green or amber traffic signal will not be ticketed by a red light camera system. |
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If a motorist stops slightly beyond the stop bar on a red light but doesn’t proceed through the intersection will they receive a ticket? |
| Detection loops under the pavement behind the stop bar tell the red-light camera system how fast a vehicle is travelling as they approach the intersection. The vehicle must be travelling at a specified threshold speed or higher for the camera to be activated. If the camera is triggered but the vehicle stops and does not enter the intersection on a red light, the processing officer reviewing the photos will not process the violation notice and the motorist will not receive a ticket. |
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What if a vehicle is making a left turn and the signal turns red when the vehicle is still in the intersection? |
| If the vehicle enters the intersection on a green or amber traffic signal, the left-turning motorist will not be ticketed for turning when the traffic signal is red. |
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What if a vehicle is making a permitted right turn on red? Will the motorist receive a ticket? |
| In accordance with the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario, if the vehicle comes to a stop before the stop bar prior to turning, the motorist will not be ticketed for turning right on red. |
| How do red-light cameras increase safety if they can’t prevent a collision from happening? |
| Public awareness of red-light cameras reduces aggressive driving behaviour and decreases red light running. The cameras are a deterrent such that the threat of a ticket can change motorist behaviour. Studies have shown that red-light violation rates can decrease by almost 50 per cent within a few months of camera installation and that right-angle collisions can be reduced by more than 25 per cent. The benefits of improved driving behaviour can even spread to intersections without red-light cameras, a phenomenon called the halo-effect. |
| Do the cameras also record violations at night? |
| Yes. The cameras can record violations in darkness. |
| Why not just make the amber light longer so that vehicles have more time to clear the intersection? |
| The Region uses Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) guidelines to determine both the length of the amber and the all-red phase at signalized intersections. The guidelines consider the posted speed limit and the width of the intersection. A longer amber or a longer all-red could encourage motorists to continue driving through the intersection. Longer vehicle clearance times also increase overall delays for all users of the intersection. |
| Will the Region shorten the length of amber lights at traffic signals in order to catch more vehicles running red lights? |
| No. The Region will continue to adhere to Ministry of Transportation Ontario guidelines to determine both the length of the amber and the all-red phase at signalized intersections. The length of amber lights at signalized intersections will not be adjusted in order to catch more red light runners. |
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Do red light cameras replace police officers at intersections? Isn’t regular police enforcement enough? |
| Red-light cameras do not replace police officers, but they are an enforcement tool used to enhance police efforts and discourage motorists from running red lights. Since the cameras operate 24/7, the program allows police to use their resources more efficiently. |
| Do police have to show up in court when a red-light camera ticket is appealed? |
| No. The photographic evidence is so compelling that a police officer is not required to be in court when a ticket is appealed. This saves valuable time and allows police resources to be utilized where they are most needed. |
| Do the cameras photograph every vehicle passing through the intersection? |
| No. The cameras only photograph vehicles that enter an intersection after the traffic signal has turned red. Vehicles that enter the intersection on a green or amber traffic signal will not be photographed. |
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How long does it take to receive the ticket in the mail? |
| Provincial regulations state that the ticket must be sent within 23 days of the offence. The letter is expected to arrive within seven days, so the ticket should be received a maximum of 30 days or less after the offence. |
| Do red-light cameras violate privacy? |
| Every attempt is made to minimize capturing members of the public in the photos. If members of the public are inadvertently captured on film, it will not be possible to identify them from the photos. |
| How are violations processed? Are the photographs carefully reviewed before motorists are ticketed? |
| All municipalities in Ontario with a red-light camera program must use the same vendor such that all programs operate identically and follow the same rules and processes. The vendor typically downloads the digital film at the intersections on a weekly basis. All images are delivered to a centralized processing center operated by the City of Toronto. Trained Provincial Offences Officers carefully review every photograph to verify information and to ensure that the vehicle is in violation. Tickets are mailed to registered vehicle owners only if the photographs clearly show that the vehicle ran the red light. The local court system is responsible for any violation appeals. |
| Do red-light cameras generate a lot of revenue? |
| The focus of the red-light camera program is safety and not a means to generate revenue. The goal of a successful red-light camera program is to be revenue neutral, meaning that the revenues would at least cover the operating expenses. Since the incidence of red light running decreases after the installation of cameras, it is difficult to predict the number of red light violations. Once operating expenses and staff time are accounted for, municipalities cannot ensure that the program will generate revenue. If the program does however eventually generate revenue, staff would recommend that these funds be directed towards road safety initiatives, but the final decision would rest with council. |
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What is the cost of a red-light camera program? |
| Costs associated with the red-light camera program include the annual vendor costs for the equipment, fees paid to the MTO to access driver information and fees paid to the joint processing centre to process charges on behalf of the Region.
The cost assumed to operate one site for a full year taking into account everything noted above, but not including Region staff time, was approximately $65,000 per year per site. |
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