Speeding tickets more likely in some cities

Posted Sep 1, 2011 05:09:06 AM.

This article is more than 5 years old.

Drivers in Waterloo Region are not being stopped for speeding as often as motorists in other parts of North America.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service issues an average of about 20,000 speeding tickets every year but that’s still below the number handed out in Windsor, according to rankings issued by the National Motorists Association.

The U.S.-based organization has issued a report on the Top 25 North American cities to be stopped for speeding, with Livonia, Michigan at the top of the list. Windsor is second overall in the report, followed by Orlando, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada and Denver, Colorado.

Hamilton (15th), Toronto (17th) and Edmonton (19th) were the other Canadian cities to make the list. No cities within Waterloo Region cracked the Top 25.

Police spokesperson Alana Holtom says our officers do not randomly select areas where they hope to find a lot of speeders.

“We base it on collision analysis as well as speed data and public complaints, and that’s where we set up our strategic enforcement,” Holtom explains in an interview with 570 News.

And despite the tens of thousands of speeding tickets issued locally each year, Holtom says it’s not about generating revenue.

“It’s absolutely part of the road safety initiative,” Holtom insists. “It helps to build awareness and education and if it gets drivers to slow down, that’s great news for safety.”

While complaining about “speed traps” seems to be a popular past-time with many drivers, Holtom says police tend to get more complaints about speeders than speeding tickets.

Holtom says the police service will often respond to complaints about speeding in a neighbourhood or near a workplace and set up targeted enforcement accordingly.

Holtom says the rankings are timely, if only to remind drivers to slow down and drive with caution as we head back to school next week.

Here is the list of the 25 most likely places in North America to get a speeding ticket:

1. Livonia, Michigan

2. Windsor, Ontario

3. Orlando, Florida

4. Las Vegas, Nevada

5. Denver, Colorado

6. Reno, Nevada

7. Tampa, Florida

8. Colorado Springs, Colorado

9. Austin, Texas

10. Sarasota, Florida