(Queen’s Park) – Garfield Dunlop, P.C. Critic for Community Safety and Correctional Services, today accused Premier Dalton McGuinty of using municipalities to get photo radar back on Ontario’s highways.

“In a devilish way, the Premier has baited municipalities with the promise of cash that comes from the fines collected through photo radar,” said Dunlop. “Municipalities have taken the bait, so McGuinty can now blame them for the pending decision to install it everywhere else.”

Dunlop strongly believes that the McGuinty government has been planning to reinstate photo radar for some time, but first needed to find a credible scapegoat. Now that the Association of Municipalities of Ontario has asked the McGuinty government for permission to use photo radar in cities and towns, McGuinty has found someone to take the fall when he expands photo radar to include Ontario’s highways.

“During the election, McGuinty promised more cops, not cameras,” said Dunlop. “He’s clearly trying to replace the 1,000 police officers he promised with the photo radar he didn’t promise.”

Dunlop noted that the most effective way to stop aggressive driving on our province’s highways is with an increased police presence.

“Photo radar does nothing to curb bad driving habits like tailgating and traffic weaving,” said Dunlop. “Unlike police, it’s only capable of focusing on the vehicle owner, rather than the speeding driver.”

Contacts:
Garfield Dunlop
(705) 327-4500 (cell)