Guelph sees two speed cameras knocked over

Speed cameras have been a contentious issue in Waterloo Region, and the same holds true in Guelph as well.

A pair of them were knocked over during the weekend, with at least one sustaining damage.

Police responded first to reports of a speed camera being knocked over and damaged on Clairfields Drive in front of St Paul Catholic School on Sunday. Then hours later got reports that a second camera on Bard Boulevard had been tipped over as well.

There’s no sign that a vehicle was involved in either incident, with the assumption being that a person(s) was responsible for knocking over the cameras.

It’s against the law to damage the cameras, and doing so can land a charge of mischief of under or over $5,000, depending on the extent of the damage.

Scott Tracey, media relations coordinator with Guelph Police and told 570 NewsRadio that even if one doesn’t damage the camera, impairing it in any way will also receive a charge.

“Even if the camera is knocked over and doesn’t otherwise sustain any damage, the camera is still, of course, out of operation for that time period and there is a charge of mischief by interfering with property,” he said. “So that’s a charge that could be laid even if there’s no actual physical damage to the camera itself.”

Tracey also said that the city does make sure people know that the cameras are going up, both by posting signs in the area announcing they’ll be installed soon, and providing a list of speed camera locations on the city’s website.

As to how to best avoid getting tickets from the cameras, Tracey says Guelph Police “encourage people to slow down if they don’t wanna get a ticket, just simply slow down and that won’t be an issue.”