Police Chief Bill Blair calls for more red-light cameras

Red-light cameras can make roadways safer and ease congestion, Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair said in his pitch for more of the cameras on city streets.

The police chief made the call at the Canadian Club at Fairmont Royal York Hotel Monday, saying red-light cameras are far more effective in nabbing bad drivers versus using police officers at intersections.

He says catching drivers making illegal turns and those who fail to clear the intersection after the light turns will be very good at battling gridlock and that is his main goal.

“I’m less interested in giving out a lot of tickets and far more interested in people complying with the law,” he said.

“That’ll get everybody home safely and it’ll get everybody home a little earlier.”

Blair wants the red-light cameras to be very obvious with large signage identifying them.

However, he says this sort of expansion would require provincial approval and he wants the city to start the conversation now.

The city already has 67 red-light cameras at several key intersections.

Blair says those cameras already have technology to target speeders and illegal turns.

He did not specify a cost for the expansion or how many cameras he wishes to see added.

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