莫名堂觀察：安省全面禁止交通違法攝像頭

加拿大安大略省筆譯口譯協會（atio）認證翻譯、加拿大認證esl老師、留學申請顧問。

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加拿大英文教練（原溫哥華英文教練），致力于地道英文表達

最近，在加拿大安大略省Bill-56法案的通過，應該是最大的新聞了。根據該法案的要求，省內各市目前運行中的交通違法攝像頭必須全部限期拆除，理由是，這些打著控制時速的攝像頭，已經變成各市的生財之道，一些城市甚至每年因此增加數億加幣的財政收入。具體到個人，我一個朋友一周之內就收到過上千元的罰單，就是因為家附近的那個攝像頭“努力工作”造成的。在多倫多幾個著名的攝像頭所在地，一些憤怒的居民用各種手段去搗毀這些攝像頭，有些甚至剛剛修好，很快就被再次搗毀。破壞公物，當然是違法行為，但如果一項法令不是增加公眾利益而是損害的話，起而抵制它，也是公民不服從的題中應有之義，很顯然，Bill 56的通過，人民的呼聲被聽到了。省長福特說，這些攝像頭已經成為cash grab的工具。要控制超速，不是只有靠罰款，在一些地方，尤其是學校、行人密集區，可以通過設置減速帶(speed bump)、環形帶（roundabout）等方式來減速，一樣可以達到效果，為什么一定要罰款？而且罰得這么重？

了解這個背景之后，我們來看下面的英文報道：

The Ontario government intends to introduce legislation next month that will ban the use of municipal automated speed enforcement cameras across the province, ensuring they are no longer used as a form of revenue（生財之道）. To improve road safety, the province will instead establish a new provincial fund to help affected municipalities implement alternative safety measures, including proactive traffic-calming initiatives like speed bumps, roundabouts, raised crosswalks and curb extensions, as well as public education and improved signage, to slow down drivers.

“At a time when governments at all levels should be doing everything they can to lower costs and make life more affordable, too many municipalities are using speed cameras as a cash grab（搶錢）,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Enough is enough. Instead of making life more expensive by sending speeding tickets to drivers weeks after the fact, we’re supporting road-safety measures that will prevent speeding in the first place, keep costs down and keep our streets safe.”

Since 2019, over 700 municipal speed cameras have been installed in 40 municipalities across Ontario, with more currently planned for installation in the coming months.

“Municipal speed cameras have become nothing more than a tool for raising revenue,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Our government is focused on measures that truly protect the safety of all Ontarians and we will continue working with municipalities to ensure Ontario maintains its position as one of the safest jurisdictions in North America.”

If passed, this legislation will prevent the use of municipal speed cameras in Ontario immediately upon Royal Assent. The province will also introduce requirements for municipalities with existing speed cameras in school zones to install large new signs to slow down drivers by mid-November 2025, with permanent, large signs with flashing lights to be in place by September 2026. Municipalities will also be encouraged to implement alternative traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps, speed cushions, raised crosswalks, curb extensions and roundabouts, as well as enhanced signage and education and awareness campaigns.

“I thank Premier Doug Ford for providing clarity on the speed camera program and for his commitment to provide financial support for municipal traffic-calming measures,” said Steven Del Duca, Mayor of Vaughan. “Road safety will always be a priority and, in Vaughan, we will do everything possible to protect vulnerable road users. But we will also focus our attention on fighting real crime and going after real criminals.”

為此，既得利益者，如多倫多市政當局，成天為這些斂財工具辯護，口口聲聲說那些車開得多快多快，孩子們多危險云云。乍聽，有道理，細想不對：交通安全是大家的共同心聲，但是為了交通安全，就一定要罰款？罰款越收越多，但是速度降下去了嗎？而且，嚴重超速并造成實際危害的有多大比例？一次重大事故固然嚇人，但是這樣的事故發生的頻率和概率有多大？對于交通安全，政府的作為難道就只是收錢？因為安攝像頭最省事，柱子一立，財源滾滾來，何樂而不為？懶惰的行政當局為什么要淘神去想其他方法，就算有這些方法，又不能帶來利益，為什么要去做？如今西方的很多政府都已經退化到逐利的境界了，人也好，政府也好，往往是學好不容易，學壞一學就會。在全球同此涼熱的今天，安省政府及省長福特，還算做了點人事。