Dear Editor:
RE: County to spend $4M in speed camera revenue on road projects, Oct. 23.
Wellington County’s plan to use about $4 million in speed camera revenue to fund next year’s road projects is deeply concerning. Speed cameras were introduced to protect communities and save lives, not to act as a cash flow for municipal budgets.
When speed cameras become funding sources, priorities shift from safety to profit. The success of speed cameras should mean less speeding and fewer tickets, not a stream of revenue to use on road construction. Using the fines for road funding creates a conflict of interest and ruins public trust in local government.
If the county actually wants to make our roads safer, that money should go back into school zones and driver education. Treating fines as easy cash sends the wrong message: that breaking the law is just another way to make quick cash.
The cameras are often placed in spots that maximize fines rather than improve safety. The government picks locations where they can make the most profit. This adds to public distrust, especially when minor infractions are harshly punished and private companies profit from ticket revenue.
While speed cameras can reduce accidents when used properly, their questionable placement and revenue-focused enforcement often make them more about making money than keeping roads safe.
Speed cameras should protect people, not profit the government.
Nolan Lodder,
Guelph