Vandalism Strikes Again!

In a bizarre twist of events, one of Toronto's most notorious speed cameras has been taken down for the seventh time in less than a year! The Parkside Drive speed camera, a frequent target of vandalism, is now the center of an ongoing police investigation.

Caught in the Act!

Just days before this latest incident, resident Richard Penner captured video evidence of the camera being chopped down in real time, raising alarms in the local community. After it suffered damage for the fourth time back in April, Penner took matters into his own hands by installing a trail camera to monitor the relentless acts of sabotage.

A Revenue Giant with a Jinxed Fate!

Since its installation in 2022, the Parkside speed camera has raked in over 66,000 tickets, generating more than $7 million in fines. Yet, its effectiveness has been severely hampered by ongoing vandalism, leaving it out of commission for extended periods.

Community Advocacy Ignites Action!

Faraz Gholizadeh, of the Safe Parkside community group, has been vocal about the need for city officials to step up their game. "Each time this camera gets vandalized, it shines a light on Toronto's failure to secure the site and its reluctance to address the hazardous conditions on this roadway," Gholizadeh stated.

Dangerous Roadway Under Scrutiny!

Parkside Drive is notorious for its high-speed traffic, flanked by High Park to one side and residential neighborhoods on the other. Residents, including Gholizadeh, have long deemed it a dangerous corridor.

Plans for Safety Redesign Hindered!

Last November, city council greenlit a safety redesign for Parkside, incorporating bike lanes and various traffic-calming measures. However, the project now hangs in the balance due to recent provincial legislation that restricts municipalities from altering traffic lanes without provincial approval.

A Tragic Reminder!

The speed camera was initially installed in 2021 after a tragic incident where a speeding driver rear-ended a stationary vehicle, resulting in the deaths of two elderly occupants.

Ongoing Investigations!

Having undergone both reinstallation and the addition of a Toronto police surveillance camera earlier this summer, the speed camera met its latest fate on July 9. Despite quick repairs that returned it to service by August 10, it was tragically destroyed once more in this most recent act of vandalism. Toronto police continue to investigate these despicable acts, but it remains uncertain if their surveillance footage captured the latest attack.