
Staggering 5% of Automated Tickets Challenged: Can You Win?
2025-06-16
Author: Charlotte
In Guelph, citizens are taking a stand against automated red light and speed camera tickets, but the odds of getting off scot-free are not in their favor.
According to recent statistics from the City of Guelph, out of a staggering 31,510 fines issued between 2021 and 2023, about 5.4%—equal to around 1,700 tickets—were contested in court. However, the reality is grim: less than 5% of those disputing their tickets left the courthouse without a fine.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Few Win Against the System
Since the launch of four red light cameras in 2021, an eye-popping total of 10,416 tickets have been issued. Out of these, 1,111 tickets were challenged in Provincial Offences Court. How many of those were actually dismissed? Just 64, with only three full dismissals after trials. The odds aren't great.
Speeding into Trouble: The Stats Are Disturbing
As for speed enforcement cameras deployed throughout the city—specifically in school zones with a rotation every three months—21,094 tickets have been handed out since the program kicked off this year. Of these fines, only 589 were contested, with a mere 18 resulting in a withdrawal or dismissal.
And if you're wondering about the future, brace yourself: eight more cameras are set to hit the streets next month, further raising the stakes.
What Happens After a Ticket? The Process Explained
Once a ticket is issued, the City of Guelph hands off the reins, explains Jennifer Charles, the general manager of legal and court services. The decisions on whether to withdraw charges fall to the Crown attorney, while judges handle dismissals. "The only time a prosecutor would withdraw a charge is if they see no reasonable prospect of conviction," she noted.
What Could Lead to Withdrawal?
Possible reasons for a ticket dismissal might include the city’s evidence not being compelling enough, or a police officer failing to appear in court for another unrelated charge. Other contributing factors can be court delays or incidents involving emergency vehicles.
Court Backlog: A Double-Edged Sword
Charles added that the city is often limited in its influence over these processes. However, they do advocate for scheduling trials further out, providing room for the processing company to generate evidence. But with a court system bogged down by backlog, this isn't always feasible.
Here’s the kicker: the vendor company gets paid per day, regardless of how many tickets are thrown out. So while fighting these automated tickets can seem like an uphill battle, the heart of the issue lies in a system that isn’t always geared toward fair play.