City looking at putting photo radar on the Red Hill and Linc

The city of Hamilton is looking at putting photo radar on the Red Hill Valley and Lincoln Alexander parkways, trying to revive a controversial tactic killed by the Mike Harris government in 1995.

City staff will come back with a report on the feasibility. It comes as part of a broader conversation about how to make the highways safer, particularly in light of a collision that killed two 19-year-olds in May.

Sam Merulla, a Ward 4 councillor, moved it. A consultant report recommended $810,000 in short-term upgrades, and more than $10 million in longer term fixes, to improve the roads. The committee approved the short-term fixes.

The report also recommended that Hamilton Police step up enforcement on the highways. But Merulla says a photo radar system will be cheaper. The expense can be covered from a reserve comprised of red-light camera money.

"People are just running amok," he said of the highway. "Frankly, they have no desire to abide by the law and should be held accountable."

"People believe they have a right to drive, that it's not a privilege, and it's getting worse."

With photo radar, a vehicle, usually a van, is parked by the side of the road to measure the speed of motorists. When a speeding car is identified, it is photographed and the owner is sent a ticket in the mail. It's been a controversial system in Ontario in the last 25 years. Critics called it a money grab. Former premier Mike Harris campaigned, and won, in part on his promise to kill the program. 

Merulla says there wasn't a political appetite for it years ago, but there is now. 

"I believe there is strong support for this," he said.

Terry Whitehead, Ward 8 councillor, agreed with it too. 

"It's a revenue grab and I don't have a problem with it and i'm not ashamed of it," he said. "People not driving appropriately should be paying."

Tom Jackson, Ward 6 councillor, supports "cameras catching those that are doing nefarious things," he said. "If they're doing what they're supposed to, they have nothing to worry about."

Lloyd Ferguson, Ancaster councillor of Ward 12, was the lone opponent. "I'm mixed," he said.

It failed in Ontario, and it failed in other places. And "a lot of our citizens will see it as a tax grab."

The province would have to give the city permission to implement photo radar, and change the Highway Traffic Act. City council will also have to ratify the decision on Wednesday.

The committee also voted to look into improving the lighting on the highway.

Who voted to look into photo radar:

Sam Merulla (Ward 4), Chad Collins (5), Terry Whitehead (8), Tom Jackson (6), Doug Conley (9)

Who was opposed:

Lloyd Ferguson (12)