The traffic camera installed near Crossroads Public School in Virgil was brought down at its base by an unknown vandal early Tuesday morning.
The Niagara Region, which owns the camera, said it’s working to get the camera fixed soon. It appears to have been cut by a power tool.
“Niagara Region is aware of the vandalism to the automated speed enforcement camera on Regional Road 55,” said Scott Fraser, the region’s associate director of transportation planning.
He said the camera vendor, responsible for the installation and maintenance of the camera (which includes dealing with instances of vandalism), has been notified.
Currently, the region doesn’t have an estimate of how much it’ll cost to repair the camera, Fraser said.
“However, we expect the site to be repaired and the camera returned to service within the next few days,” he said.
Niagara-on-the-Lake has seen a wave of vandalism this year. On New Year’s Day, there were 16 vehicles that had their windows smashed. In February, 10 cars had their windows broken at the Pillar and Post Hotel & Spa.
The region started its speed enforcement program in 2023, with cameras rotating in different parts of Niagara since then. A camera by Crossroads was active in 2024 and again this year.
The use of traffic cameras to enforce speeding, including in school zones like this one, has been met with some anger and controversy due to a belief among some drivers that the installation of the cameras is motivated by money-making rather than road safety, as well as issues with technology relating to the automated ticket system.
“My wife and son each received a ticket each in late February for going 53 and 52 km/h,” one local told The Lake Report in a roundup of opinions from ticketed drivers published last March.
“Total fines were $85 and $80, respectively. We will pay the fine, but we will take action to avoid Virgil. I believe these automated cameras are a soft way to get extra money into coffers in the guise of safety. We are all pro-safety, but also common sense.”
“I received a speeding ticket at Crossroads — $115 for driving at 58 km/h,” said another complainant. “I paid by mail as the internet connection on the ticket did not work.”
Parents like Todd Graves, the father of a Grade 5 student at Crossroads, see this as no excuse for the vandalism.
“I can understand speed camera frustration,” Graves said. “But they are meant to be there for the benefit of the kids and vandalism is never acceptable.”
A spokesperson for Niagara Regional Police says the force is aware of the incident and is asking the public for help in identifying the vandal.
In the meantime, it wants the public to know that potential consequences for vandalism can be stiff in Niagara.
Assuming the price of the speed camera is more than $5,000, “the criminal charge would be mischief over $5,000, with a potential maximum penalty of two years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both,” said Const. Rich Hingley in an email.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service at (905)-688-4111 or Crimestoppers Niagara at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or crimestoppersniagara.ca.
