Jim Watson now open to photo radar, but only in school zones

Ottawa's mayor is urging citycouncillors to support apilot project that would seephoto radar in school zones, and to ask the Ontario government for thepower to use the technology.

It's a change of stance on the mayor's part, as Watson had earlier saidhe was "not convinced" of the public demand for photo radar, and worriedthe technology could become a "cash grab" for the city.

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Councillors debated the contentious issue at the city's transportation committee Wednesday, andapproved the approach promoted by Watson.

River wardCoun. RileyBrockington first brought a motion to city council in Marchto request permission from the province to allow municipalities to bring in photo radar on local streets as a way to cut down on speeding and make city roads safer.

But the issuewas punted ahead to today'stransportation committee agenda, in part to give members of the public a chance to present their views on the subject.

Mayor pushes for changes

Just as themeeting was about to start, Watson announced he'd beenworking with transportation committee chairKeithEglion a version ofBrockington'sidea that would see the technology usedonly in school zones, and only if the ward councillorwants it.

"I believe this is a solid way forward for those who are hesitant about a wide-scale rollout of photo radar on streets where it may not be warranted;or for those who are concerned with the tool being used as a limitless revenue generating measure," he wrote to councillors.

"The original proposal brought forward by Coun.Brockington was silenton the issue of where the money was going to go and how much money was going to be raised," Watson told reporters later. "We've seen in other jurisdictions where the threshold has been lowered and more money has been pouring into city coffers around the country."

Any money generated by the photo radar pilot project would go into road safety programs, Watson added, and not into general city coffers.

The amended proposal would also renew a bid to lower speed limits on residential streets from 50km/hr to 40km/hr.

Now that the motion has transportation committee's approval, itmust be voted on by full city council.

Public delegations favour photo radar

Most of the17public delegations at Wednesday's committee meetingspoke in favour of using the technology.

"What's the fuss with photo radar?" asked Mike Powell."It's reasonable, I think, that people are going to be annoyed at photo radar because they get more tickets when they speed. But we should be looking that as a feature not a fault."

Powellis part of a group called Safe Streets Ottawa, which collected 800 signatures from every ward in the city to argue for the technology.

Photo radar is not about grabbing cash but about safety,enforcing the law, and keeping children safe, arguedWallaceBeatonwho works on children having safe routes to school forGreen Communities Canada.

Beaton went to the meeting to push for the idea of photo radar generally, but also liked the mayor's and Egli's amendment for a pilot project in school zones.

"Given where I'm coming from, I'd be thrilled with that," said Beaton.