By Steven Symes 
A speed camera in Toronto was recently cut down by vandals, leaving city officials shocked. It might have something to do with the camera being the highest grossing in the area, having issued over 63,000 speeding tickets since it was installed. That’s about $6.8 million in fines.
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This isn’t the first time we’ve seen vigilantes take on speed enforcement cameras, whether it be as a form of protest or out of frustration after receiving a citation in the mail. In this case, it looks like someone used a power tool, perhaps a Sawzall or grinder, to cut through the metal pole holding the camera up, rendering it useless until it’s repaired.
Interestingly enough, that person didn’t cut through the wires running inside the pole. Police apparently don’t have any suspects, and the city doesn’t know when the camera will be operational again.
One member of the city council told CityNews that vandalism of the speed enforcement camera “isn’t helpful” because “people die when our streets aren’t safe.”
We know it’s a controversial stance, but we don’t think speeding alone is usually all that dangerous. Reckless behavior, even at lower speeds, is what causes dangerous situations on roads. But speed enforcement is a great way to generate revenue for municipalities, counties, and states.
On the street where this camera is located, the city has been concentrating on safety by slowing drivers down. The speed limit before was 50 kph (about 31 mph) but it was changed to 40 kph (about 25 mph). One might say it’s become the perfect speed trap, although we’re sure the city would contest that.
The city installed signs warning drivers of increased speeding enforcement and has been looking at other measures supposedly designed to enhance safety, like bike lanes. Still, it sounds like plenty of people don’t comply, making us wonder just how effective these safety features are.
One thing’s for sure, at least one person is so upset with the speed enforcement they were willing to cut through the metal pole.
Image via CityNews/YouTube