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Wednesdsay January 19, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A5 Red tape ham pering start of traffic light camera program By Irene Gentle SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Despite some delays, the province isn't trying to take the wheels off an upcoming red light camera program, said Halton M PPTed Chudleigh. "Exactly the reverse is true," he said. Permission to install the cameras in Halton, Hamilton-Wentworth, Toronto, Waterloo, Peel and Ottawa Carleton for a two-year pilot project came down a year ago. But today, nary a camera can be found. It isn't for lack of will at the Region, which has set aside $400,000 for the trial. "Council wants it," assured Halton's commissioner of planning and public works Pat Murphy. "It's potentially the best way to deter the problem of driving through red lights at intersections." But the lag isn't the province's fault, said Chudleigh. Legislation to officially launch the trial will be passed "as soon as the municipalities come to us and say `we're ready," ' he said. `T he munici palities have been dragging their feet." That isn't the way some see it. Conditions on the project imposed by the province have made it difficult to get it off the ground, some regional officials have charged. Finding a camera able to capture both the red light and the license plate of the car running through it has been tough. And a requirement that all partici pating municipalities undertake the test at the same time means some areas are waiting for others to catch up. The delay may be "unfortunate", but there are reasons for it, said Murphy. `T h e ministry, in administering the program, want it to be consistent. They want to test a variety of areas to see if it works," he said. And a trial run is needed despite good reviews stemming from use of the cameras in the United States and Europe, said Chudleigh. "There are other consequences of some of those tests," he said. "Rear-end collisions increased. And the car is being punished, not the driver. Points are not being taken away." Another unknown is how the camera fines will stand up in court, said Murphy. "I don't think it's necessary to prove the effectiveness of it as a deterrent," he said. "But the effect on the court sys tems of Ontario needs to be tested. I can see the rationale. It needs to be done right." One requirement of the project is that it be matched by stepped-up police enforcement for comparative purpose. And an improved police presence could prove better at curtailing the problem, said Chudleigh. "Bad drivers are not being taken off the road with a red light camera," said Chudleigh. He challenged the notion that the Tories are soft on dangerous driving. Under that government, the set fine for running a red light has increased from $90 plus a $15 victim fine sur charge to $155, plus a $30 victim fine surcharge, he said. The surcharge goes directly to fund victim's services. And if the intersection is located in a community safety zone, that can soar to near the $500 mark, said Chudleigh. Safety zones were introduced by the province but are designated by the municipality. There are currently four in Milton. Increased police enforcement is not a major issue, said Murphy. "(Police) Chief (Ean) Algar feels we have the resources," he said. Milton M ayor Gord Krantz expressed some reservations on the installation of the cameras. "I have mixed feelings about it," he said. "If it's to be used as a tool to get more cash, I'm against it." He said that though habitual red light runners should be punished, the odd infraction can be tough to avoid. "I've driven all my life and as a pro fessional driver, you can't always help it," said Krantz. "If you're traveling even at the speed limit it's a judgment call." And if it came down to'a horse race between red light cameras and beefed up police presence, Krantz said the lat ter would be a more effective deter rent. "But I'm also sure there'll be more cost," he added. He said he had no objection to undergoing a trial balloon and study ing the results. Canadian Club meets tonight A comm on currency for North America will.be the topic of discussion at the next Canadian Club of Oakville meeting on Jan. 19th. Richard Egelton, senior vice-presi dent and deputy chief economist of Bank of Montreal, is the guest speaker. Egelton's address is "A North American Common Currency: An Idea Whose Time Has Not Come." Prior to joining the bank in 1995, Egelton established a distinguished career with the federal Department of Finance, including close involvement in the formation of the national eco nomic and fiscal policy. He is a fre quent com m entator in the national media on economic affairs. This dinner meeting takes place at the Ramada Inn Oakville starting with cash bar at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $27.50 for members, $37.50 for non-members. Make reser vations by calling 845-2862. Egelton is a frequent commentator on economic affairs in the national media. iC I T Y tre n t SUNDAY, JA N . 23, 2000 pm Just-a-click 1 0 :0 0 a m TO 4 :0 0 * Royal Ontario Museum RO M G arfield Weston Hall, 100 Queens Park (Bloor St. a t Avenue Rd.) Halton Board open house Jan. 31st The Halton District School Board will be holding an open house on Jan. 31st as part of its student accommoda tion study for Northeast Oakville. The open house runs from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the O akville M unicipal Offices, 1225 Trafalgar Road. · / / / The board will present several stu dent accommodation scenarios for Northeast Oakville, which have been prepared by board planning staff. Board staff are seeking public feed back on the scenarios for a draft report to the school board in February. f f f /""Myrtle / Beach y \ D eN u re Tours 1-800-668-6859 / / DISCOVER a world o f enriching cam ping possibilities for summer a nd winter! Parents and children are invited to . preview dozens o f cam ps with a variety o f programs. Participating C am ps Include: · Zodiac · C a m p Kodiak · Rem ediation Plus · Gyros · C am p Equus · C entauri · C am p Kawartha · C a m p C an A qua · Heritage Toronto · C a m p Kirk · Pinecrest · C a m p O tterdaie · Tem agami · Paddlefoot 1Weekly departures February to May 10 days from $659,17 days from $999 W aterfront Harbourfront Barbizon C am p Summit School House C o m m itte e to sp rea d w ord on cleaner air (Continued from page A1) But slashing the number of cars on the road altogether can be achieved by encouraging walking and bike-riding. And issuing free or subsi dized transit passes and offering incentives for car pooling could put a dent in poor air quality, said Hall. For vehicles still on the road, synchronized traffic lights could limit the unnecessary stopping and starting of vehicles. The smog com m ittee also noted that allowing flexible dress codes for employees in the peak smog m onths o f May through September could reduce reliance on air conditioning. To achieve all that, the smog response team are hoping to spread the word on cleaner air. "Staff training would be done. All our partners would do some training," said Hall. "We'd also monitor what we're doing." For residents, limiting the use of pesticides, street sweeping, oil-based paints, road and roof surfacing and gas lawnmowers between the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. could help. "Essentially, that's the hottest time of the day. That's when we see evaporation from these prod · ucts," said Hall. "You'll notice * Visitors to the City Parent C am p Fair (Free Admission) will be granted 2 FOR I we don't say `don't do this'. We | 1 ADMISSION to the ROM upon presentation of this coupon. Valid Sunday | · Jan. 23rd, 2000 only. Cannot be com bined with any other offers or discounts. . say `let's try to minimize this at this time.'" NEWS & SPORTS For exhibitor opportunities call Premier C onsum er Shows 905 815 0017 · 1-800-265 3673 And that should go a long Three Times u Week way in getting residents to help out, said Halton chair Joyce Savoline. "We have to help them under stand why this is important," she T h e said. Installing bike lanes on some of the major arterial roads would help encourage workers to aban don their cars in favour of bicy cles at least some of the time, said Burlington Councillor Jack For Business Excellence Dennison. SEtaVER 211 £ I R O M a d m is s io n i Entertainment G E gas le a k c le a rs h o te l Fifty guests of the Monte Carlo Inn were evacuat ed Saturday in the wake of a gas leak at a nearby busi ness. According to Halton Regional Police, the risk of explosion prompt ed the evacuation after a hydrogen tank accidentally vented inside Canadian General Electric on Davis Road. Roads in the area were also closed temporari ly as the situation was brought under control. The incident occurred around 6:15 a.m. when police and the Oakville Fire Department responded to the GE plant. For some reason a tank released hydrogen into the air and a quantity of the gas ignited. No explosion occurred. The cause of the venting and the tank's condition were not known so the immediate area was evacuated as a precaution. FYaxair, the company respon sible for the tank, was brought in to help deal with the situation. No one was injured Public Skating All Day, · · · · 9 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Outdoor ice rink Skate rentals Heated changeroom s · · · · Food concession Gift store Bonfire nightly Self-use skate sharpening F or rink axtdH ions call (905) 827-6911 ext. 221 1999 'm n m H o ste dbyT h eR o ta ryC lu b of O ak ville W est &T h eO ak ville C h am b er of C o m m erce PARKS Bronte Creek Bronte Creek Provincial Park is located betw een Burlington and Oakville. Take the Q.EW . to exit 109 (Burloak Drive) and go north approxim ately 1 km to the Park entrance. Tuesday, February 8th, 2000 Rattlesnake Point Golf Club 5407 Regional Road 25, Milton Keynote Speaker Fred Ketchen-- Business Commentator T o A v o id D is a p p o in tm e n t, R e s e r v e Y o u r T ic k e ts T o d a y b y F a x in g th e O r d e r F o r m B e lo w to WIKTtR SALE «su R u th C h a d w ic k , C a r o lw o o d C o r p o r a tio n , ( 9 0 5 ) 3 1 9 - 7 9 7 8 Tickets:___ S130 = $_______ Tables (10 guests):____ (a] SHOO = $_ Name:_____________________ Company:______________________ Address: City: Postal Code: Fax: (___ ). ALL W IN T E FASH IO Telephone: (_____) VISA Card#: Name on Card: Expiry Date: To Arrange Payment bv Cheque Please call Ruth Chadwick at (905) 3 19-797A ALL SALES FINAL Trafalgar V illage 844-5361 Media Sponsor: ALL SALES FINAL T h e ( S e v il l e B e a v e r