Aussie authorities quietly admit to flaws with roadside phone and seatbelt detection cameras

Tens of thousands of drivers have been caught by phone and seatbelt detection cameras in the first nine months since their introduction in one Aussie state. But the government has admitted there may be more offenders flying under the radar which are not properly identified by the technology or department officials.

There are now a total of nine mobile-seatbelt detection cameras deployed around Victoria, with some 83,400 infringements handed down in the nine month period since the devices became fully operational. Despite some concerns by motorists, the state government said it's 100 per cent confident the penalties so far handed down have been accurate.

But according to the recently released Victorian Inspectorate Annual Report 2023-24, The Justice Department cannot be sure that rejected photos have been "sufficiently reviewed and accurately assessed", or that all incidents that "should have gone to Victoria Police" were indeed passed on.

It may mean a number of drivers have been caught on camera committing violations behind the wheel, yet have not been penalised due to gaps in the process. It's a quiet reality that casts doubt about the system's credibility in general, the Victorian opposition has claimed.

Cameras 'letting people off', Victorian Liberals say

Shadow Police Minister Brad Battin said there's never been a more important time to ensure mobile roadside cameras are accurate.

"People are more distracted on the roads than ever before. If the cameras that are supposed to detect them are letting people off, then we're going to have a bigger issue moving forward," he told 9News, encouraging transparency from the government on the matter. "Every Victorian deserves answers," he said.

It's not the first time mobile detection cameras' legitimacy has been questioned in Australia, with dozens, possibly hundreds of drivers coming forward this year to challenge their penalties — with some successfully overturning their fines.

Despite the assertion from the Victorian government that all fines are justified, there have been countless example of false positives with these camera systems in other states.

In July, one NSW driver saw his $410 fine and 10 demerit points dropped after he submitted an appeal. He claimed the item caught in his hand by a roadside camera could have been a number of things, not just a phone. Earlier this month, another driver in the state shared their frustration at receiving a seatbelt fine, arguing the grainy and unclear photos supplied by authorities failed to show proof of the apparent act.

"There's been plenty of people I know who were mistaken for holding other objects such as wallets, cigarette cases and other objects that were not mobile phones and sadly got punished for holding a mobile phone whilst driving," Sydney driver Andy Man told Yahoo News Australia recently. "We can not trust these cameras to be 100 per cent accurate or displaying clear images."

Meanwhile in Queensland, one man successfully overturned a $1,000 fine over how his passenger wore her seatbelt.

Why are mobile road cameras controversial in Australia?

Roadside mobile detection cameras across the nation have become quite controversial in recent years. Critics argue they invade privacy, often operating without clear warning, leading to concerns about unwarranted surveillance.

Many also view the cameras as a revenue-raising tool rather than a genuine road safety initiative, as they are sometimes deployed in locations more likely to catch minor infractions than in high-risk areas.

Their widespread roll-out in recent years has sparked accusations of unfairness around Australia, with some drivers claiming that penalties are disproportionate to the offences.

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