Fines for running a red light in Ontario have increased to $325., up from last year’s $180. Will this increase in fines reduce the number of collisions? Red light cameras have so far not proven to be as effective as first hoped, they certainly were not cash cows as the province and cities had hoped.
In general I am not really a fan of set traffic fines. I think they should be tied to your income as they are in Finland. Get a traffic violation in Finland and its fine represents a percentage of your income. This is more fair and provides the same level deterrent for all road users. I would also like to see more emphasis placed on aggressive driving/acts, something sorely lacking in Toronto.
Careless driving fines have also doubled. This is a huge joke, when was the last time you heard of anyone getting the maximum fine for careless? Even if they managed to kill someone it is very rare, I have heard of a few cases that have come close but nothing at the maximum.
Red light cameras are a total cash cow. They don’t even reduce accidents, or get dangerous drivers off the road(no points), they just increase revenues. Things that have been proven to reduce accidental red-light running are the count-down timers.
On the funny/malicious side, I wonder if i print out some jerk’s plate # and strap it to my bicycle and run some reds in butt fuck nowhere if he’ll get a ticket in the mail? It certainly works for cars.