New roadside cameras capture 60,000 offences in one Aussie state, raking in millions
In the 12 months leading up to October 1, tickets were issued to nearly 60,000 Tasmanian motorists busted for a variety of driving offences.
Mobile roadside safety cameras in place across one Aussie state have racked up a whopping $9.5 million in fines after issuing close to 60,000 tickets to drivers in a year.
The majority of Tasmanian motorists caught between October 2023 and October 2024 were busted for speeding, making up $7 million of the hefty sum, a spokesperson for the state’s Department of State Growth told Yahoo News Australia on Monday.
The remaining 7,000 drivers were penalised for seatbelt, mobile phone and registration offences. The new data comes just months after the state upgraded its mobile speed cameras to have the ability to check the registration status of cars as they pass by.
“Speeding, distracted driving and the incorrect use of seatbelts are significant contributors to serious injury and death on our roads,” the spokesperson told Yahoo. Until September 30 this year, 24 people were recorded as having lost their lives on Tasmanian roads.
“Unfortunately we continue to see drivers ignoring the rules which is why our mobile road safety cameras can be anywhere and at any time.”
Road authorities argued that mobile cameras “not only penalise those who choose to break the law but also discourage dangerous behaviour by increasing the likelihood of being caught when doing the wrong thing”.
“The consequences for drivers caught speeding, illegally using their phone or not wearing a seatbelt are costly and include being fined or, in serious cases, losing their licence.”
According to the state's latest data, there are some 490,000 registered drivers across cars, motorbikes and heavy vehicle classes. That means if each infringement notice went to a different driver, it would mean about one in eight drivers had been fined by the cameras during the past year.
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New data revealed after string of mobile camera arson attacks
In July, the state’s authorities revealed several mobile cameras had been targeted in a string of arson attacks, suspected to have occurred at the hands of the public. They said the devices would be moved around more frequently in a bid to keep them safe from vandals.
Similar scenes have also recently been spotted in regional Queensland.
“After several suspected arson incidents in the first half of 2024, authorities are now reconsidering how best to roll out the cameras in their ongoing bid to reduce the likelihood of injuries and crashes on our roads,” a spokesperson for Tasmania's Department of State Growth told Yahoo at the time.
“The Department of State Growth has been working with its supplier to review camera deployment practices to minimise potential vandalism risk while ensuring speed camera enforcement continues to reduce the likelihood of injuries and crashes.
“This review is ongoing and in the interim, the department has focused on more frequent deployments but for shorter periods, allowing more parts of the road network to be monitored.”
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