Toronto Police are investigating another case of vandalism after a speed camera on Parkside Drive was cut down for the seventh time in less than a year. Officers say they received a report of the damage on Sunday morning and believe the incident occurred overnight. The matter is being treated as a mischief investigation.
The Parkside Drive speed camera has become one of the most targeted pieces of traffic enforcement equipment in the city. First installed in 2021 following a fatal crash, it has since issued more than 68,000 speeding tickets. Faraz Gholizadeh, co-chair of the community advocacy group Safe Parkside, said the device has proven its effectiveness but has also faced repeated attacks, noting that it has “spent more time on its side or in a pond” in recent months than operating as intended.
Since the first act of vandalism was reported in November 2024, the camera has been knocked down six additional times. The most recent incident comes just eight weeks after the last. The device has captured extreme cases of speeding, including one driver travelling at 154 kilometres per hour — nearly four times the posted limit.
Police are appealing for information from the public as the investigation continues. The repeated destruction of the camera has sparked renewed debate over traffic enforcement, road safety, and community frustration with automated ticketing systems.