Item - 2011.AU4.1
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on November 29, 2011 without amendments and without debate.
- This item was considered by Audit Committee on October 20, 2011 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on November 29, 2011.
AU4.1 - Red Light Camera Program - Although Red Light Cameras Have Contributed to a Reduction in Accidents, Opportunities Exist to Improve Financial Results and Program Effectiveness
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted on Consent
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on November 29, 30 and December 1, 2011, adopted the following:
1. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, to review the current Red Light Camera evaluation process to ensure that it is current, complete and as effective as possible, such review include an analysis of evaluation practices in other major North American Cities. The General Manager, Transportation Services, update the 2006 evaluation of the Red Light Camera program.
2. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, as required by the operating agreement with the Province of Ontario, to report to the Province on the collision history of monitored sites.
3. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, to re-evaluate the current location of all red light cameras based on predetermined criteria. The results of this evaluation be compared to an even distribution of cameras on a ward-by-ward basis as requested by Council. Such information be reported to City Council as soon as possible.
4. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, as requested in April 2008, to report back to Council “with an update on the status of the red light camera operations”. In preparing the report, information detailing financial results of the Red Light Camera program be provided as well as revised estimates for future program costs and revenues.
5. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, to explore opportunities for program cost sharing with other parties benefiting from the Red Light Camera program, particularly the Province of Ontario and the motor vehicle insurance industry.
6. City Council request the City Solicitor in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Chief of Police to request the Province of Ontario to amend legislation to permit Parking Enforcement Officers to issue tickets in relation to licence plate visibility.
7. City Council request the Treasurer, as part of the review of the enforcement of parking tags issued to out-of-province vehicles, to include in the review the City’s current inability to issue tickets for red light camera offences.
8. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, to ensure that all road markings at red light camera intersections are maintained to the extent necessary to allow the issuance of tickets for red light violations.
9. City Council request the Director, Court Services, in consultation with the City Solicitor to report back to Council by December 2012 on the impact of the Early Resolution procedures and on other options, including administrative penalties, if the number of trials requested in relation to red light camera charges does not decrease substantially.
10. City Council request the Director, Court Services and City Solicitor, in accordance with the request of Council, to report back to Council “on the average in-court fine” for red light camera infractions.
11. City Council adopt the recommendation contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (August 25, 2011) from the Auditor General.
12. City Council authorize the public release of the information contained in the Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (August 25, 2011) from the Auditor General, at the discretion of the City Solicitor in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services.
Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (August 25, 2011) from the Auditor General remains confidential in its entirety at this time in accordance with the provisions of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, as the information relates to the security of the property belonging to the City or one of its agencies, boards, and commissions and is about litigation or potential litigation that affects the City or one of its agencies, boards, and commissions. The confidential information in Attachment 1 will be made public at the discretion of the City Solicitor in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services.
Confidential Attachment - The security of the property of the municipality or local board; Litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-41470.pdf
(August 25, 2011) Appendix 1 to the Staff Report - Red Light Camera Program - Although Red Light Cameras Have Contributed to a Reduction in Accidents, Opportunities Exist to Improve Financial Results and Program Effectiveness
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-41471.pdf
(August 25, 2011) Appendix 2 to the Staff Report - Management's Response to the Auditor General's Red Light Camera Program - Although Red Light Cameras Have Contributed to a Reduction in Accidents, Opportunities Exist to Improve Financial Results and Program Effectiveness
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-41472.pdf
(October 20, 2011) Presentation from the Auditor General on the Review of the Red Light Camera Program
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-41887.pdf
(October 20, 2011) Confidential Presentation from the Auditor General on the Review of the Red Light Camera Program
AU4.1 - Red Light Camera Program - Although Red Light Cameras Have Contributed to a Reduction in Accidents, Opportunities Exist to Improve Financial Results and Program Effectiveness
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Confidential Attachment - The security of the property of the municipality or local board; Litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board
Committee Recommendations
The Audit Committee recommends that:
1. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, to review the current Red Light Camera evaluation process to ensure that it is current, complete and as effective as possible, such review include an analysis of evaluation practices in other major North American Cities. The General Manager, Transportation Services, update the 2006 evaluation of the Red Light Camera program.
2. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, as required by the operating agreement with the Province of Ontario, to report to the Province on the collision history of monitored sites.
3. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, to re-evaluate the current location of all red light cameras based on predetermined criteria. The results of this evaluation be compared to an even distribution of cameras on a ward-by-ward basis as requested by Council. Such information be reported to City Council as soon as possible.
4. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, as requested in April 2008, to report back to Council “with an update on the status of the red light camera operations”. In preparing the report, information detailing financial results of the Red Light Camera program be provided as well as revised estimates for future program costs and revenues.
5. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, to explore opportunities for program cost sharing with other parties benefiting from the Red Light Camera program, particularly the Province of Ontario and the motor vehicle insurance industry.
6. City Council request the City Solicitor in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Chief of Police to request the Province of Ontario to amend legislation to permit Parking Enforcement Officers to issue tickets in relation to licence plate visibility.
7. City Council request the Treasurer, as part of the review of the enforcement of parking tags issued to out-of-province vehicles, to include in the review the City’s current inability to issue tickets for red light camera offences.
8. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, to ensure that all road markings at red light camera intersections are maintained to the extent necessary to allow the issuance of tickets for red light violations.
9. City Council request the Director, Court Services, in consultation with the City Solicitor to report back to Council by December 2012 on the impact of the Early Resolution procedures and on other options, including administrative penalties, if the number of trials requested in relation to red light camera charges does not decrease substantially.
10. City Council request the Director, Court Services and City Solicitor, in accordance with the request of Council, to report back to Council “on the average in-court fine” for red light camera infractions.
11. City Council adopt the recommendation contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (August 25, 2011) from the Auditor General.
12. City Council authorize the public release of the information contained in the Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (August 25, 2011) from the Auditor General, at the discretion of the City Solicitor in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services.
Decision Advice and Other Information
The Audit Committee requested the General Manager, Transportation Services to report to the Committee by March 31, 2012, on the progress with the Province on amendments to legislation which would permit parking enforcement officers to issue tickets in relationship to licence plate visibility and expired licence renewal stickers.
The Audit Committee recessed its public session to meet in closed session to consider this item as it relates to:
- security of the property of the City or local board;
- litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals.
Origin
Summary
Red light cameras are used in many jurisdictions around the world to enhance enforcement efforts aimed at the reduction in red light running and the resulting accidents. The City of Toronto's program was initiated in November 2000 with the installation of 10 cameras rotating between 38 intersections. Currently, the City has 87 cameras operating among 114 locations.
The Auditor General’s 2010 Work Plan included a review of the effectiveness of the Red Light Camera program. The objectives were to determine if the cameras were effective in reducing the number and severity of accidents related to red light running. Controls over the laying of charges and collection of fines as well as the costs and revenues associated with the program were also reviewed.
The audit report contains 10 recommendations along with a management response to each of the recommendations. The implementation of these recommendations will improve the overall effectiveness of the City’s Red Light Camera program and has the potential to increase revenue by approximately $2.5 million.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-41470.pdf
(August 25, 2011) Appendix 1 to the Staff Report - Red Light Camera Program - Although Red Light Cameras Have Contributed to a Reduction in Accidents, Opportunities Exist to Improve Financial Results and Program Effectiveness
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-41471.pdf
(August 25, 2011) Appendix 2 to the Staff Report - Management's Response to the Auditor General's Red Light Camera Program - Although Red Light Cameras Have Contributed to a Reduction in Accidents, Opportunities Exist to Improve Financial Results and Program Effectiveness
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-41472.pdf
(October 20, 2011) Presentation from the Auditor General on the Review of the Red Light Camera Program
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-41887.pdf
(October 20, 2011) Confidential Presentation from the Auditor General on the Review of the Red Light Camera Program
Motions
That the Audit Committee recess its public session to meet in closed session to consider this item as it relates to:
- security of the property of the City or local board;
- litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals.
That the Audit Committee request the General Manager, Transportation Services to report to the Committee by March 31, 2012, on the progress with the Province on amendments to legislation which would permit parking enforcement officers to issue tickets in relationship to licence plate visibility and expired licence renewal stickers.
That Recommendation 3 of the report (August 25, 2011) from the Auditor General be amended by adding, "as soon as possible", so that the Recommendation now reads:
"3. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, re-evaluate the current location of all red light cameras based on predetermined criteria. The results of this evaluation be compared to an even distribution of cameras on a ward-by-ward basis as requested by Council. Such information be reported to City Council as soon as possible."