Yes, and province asked to increase fines too!

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Red light cameras will be coming to intersections across the city and if Queen's Park co-operates, it will cost drivers who run red lights significantly more in cash and demerit points.

That, at least, was the recommendation of Toronto's public works and infrastructure committee Wednesday, April 9 when it approved a set of reports to enhance the city's red light camera program.

The committee was looking at a suite of recommendations on how to improve safety at signalized intersections across the city.

Foremost among them was a dramatic increase in the number of red light camera locations, from the current 10 cameras at 37 intersections to 98 cameras rotating around 169 intersections.

As well, the city is asking the provincial government to stiffen the fines for those caught running red lights - from $180 currently to $500 - for those caught on red light cameras. And for those caught running a light by police officers, the current three-demerit-point penalty should rise up to five points, the committee said.

Ward 37 (Scarborough Centre) Councillor Michael Thompson originally proposed the increase in response to various horrific accidents in his ward. He was on hand at the committee to urge councillors there to push ahead.

"This isn't an attempt to be punitive or to try a cash grab as some have stated," Thompson said. "What I'd like to do is ensure that our roadways are safe. There was an accident in my ward at Midland and Lawrence where two people were killed last year. It continues to happen. If education would simply work, I would go for that."

Thompson didn't get much argument from committee members, although Ward 15 (Eglinton-Lawrence) Councillor Howard Moscoe said the city needs to look at other means to curb red-light running. He said an expansion of the pedestrian countdown signals on downtown streets would go a long way to making drivers more cognizant.

"I as a motorist am totally oblivious to any red light cameras that exist - I don't pay attention to them, I don't think about them, I don't worry about them," he said. "But I am extremely conscious of every countdown signal, because then I have a real gauge of when to stop. I submit that those are a huge deterrent to red-light running."