Motorists in Western Australia have had more than $1.1 million worth of fines avoided by artificial intelligence (AI)-powered traffic surveillance cameras.
The cameras became operational in WA last year, after being rolled out in states including New South Wales in 2020. However, the WA Department of Transport has now waived more than 2000 infringements committed using this technology.
“What we’ve actually done is issued a series of fines from people who were fined in quick succession because they just didn’t know the technology was catching them,” said WA Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby ABC Radio Perth.
The use of AI cameras to detect offending drivers has drawn criticism, including cases where innocent drivers were wrongly issued with infringement notices both in Australia and overseas.
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The cameras are widely used to detect crimes such as illegal use of cell phones by drivers and improper use of seat belts by drivers and passengers.
“The law always states that the driver is responsible for the safety (of passengers), including correctly fastening the seat belts of those in their car,” Mr Whitby said.
“These new speed cameras have actually changed behavior and I have no doubt that they have actually saved lives.
“We are thinking about introducing more, but again we want to take a very careful and gradual approach.”
In Queensland, which has some of the highest fines for traffic offenses in Australia, AI cameras came under scrutiny late last year over potential privacy concerns.
This followed record revenue from fines, with the state government taking in $464.3 million in the 2024 fiscal year – almost three times its total in 2019-20 – even as the number of fines fell by 30 percent.
In WA, around 53,000 fines were issued for improper use of seatbelts with AI-powered cameras, so the approximately 2,000 fines withdrawn represent only a small proportion of the total.
“We are seeing crimes being detected on an unprecedented scale because the cameras actually look into the cabin (of the vehicle),” Mr Whitby said.
The minister said the removal of $1.1 million in fines showed the system was working and motorists could successfully appeal wrongful fines.
“Less than four per cent of offenses, particularly seatbelt offences, have been expunged. This means most people collect the fine and realize they are doing the wrong thing,” he said.
“If you have a legitimate issue and you believe you have been wronged and it is unfair, you will receive a fair response and be considered.”
MORE: Privacy concerns over “unfair” fines for AI-powered cell phones and seatbelt cameras
