Adelaide City Council withdraws $342 AI camera car fine after dashcam footage exposes huge ‘fail’An Adelaide driver received a $342 parking fine after being snapped by the council’s new AI camera car. His dashcam told a different story.Tamika Seeto3 min readOctober 13, 2026 - 12:44PMThe City of Adelaide has been forced to withdraw a $342 fine issued to a driver, after dashcam footage exposed a huge “fail” with the AI camera car that caught him out.The council’s Park Safe vehicles have mounted cameras that scan for illegally parked vehicles and take high quality photographs, based on number plate recognition, GPS, environment mapping and artificial intelligence.Want more finance news? Download our new app for even more coverageOne vehicle issued $4.25 million worth of fines in 2024-25, with a second vehicle recently deployed by the council. The vehicle has come under scrutiny amid concerns it has been falsely catching out drivers, with one Adelaide driver sharing his own frustrating experience with the tech.An Adelaide driver was issued a $342 parking fine by the council’s Park Safe vehicle. Picture: RedditHe was issued a $342 parking fine after it was claimed the vehicle had pictured him stopping in a bicycle lane. In reality, the driver’s dashcam footage clearly showed he was reverse parallel parking his car.Others you may likenewsnewsThe driver said he was taking his eldest son to get a haircut at the time and had spotted the “prime position carpark, right out the front”. “I chucked my blinker on, I pulled over, I waited for the three cars in my lane to pass, including you, Mr robot-car issuing officer 725B in a Subaru Forester rego S311DHK with your ever watchful camera array hat designed to keep our community safe,” he shared on social media.“I chucked my car into reverse and proceeded to execute what I would consider one of the most masterful reverse parallel parks I have ever performed, and with my kid asking me for ice cream at that very moment too. Nailed it.”The driver shared dashcam footage showing he was reverse parallel parking at the time. Picture: RedditHe briefly paused in the bicycle lane. Picture: RedditThe driver shared dashcam footage showing he was reverse parallel parking. Picture: RedditThe driver said he didn’t realise he was being watched by the Park Safe vehicle until he later received the fine in the mail.He shared dashcam footage showing exactly what had taken place. It shows his car turning his indicator on to park, before stopping briefly in the bicycle lane for around 5 seconds waiting for cars to pass before he parallel parks.“It’s damning evidence that the fining system is completely flawed,” he said.“I am probably one of the lucky ones that has this type of evidence – how many people are being wrongfully fined without being able to prove otherwise?” City of Adelaide withdraws fineAfter being contacted by news.com.au, the Adelaide City Council reviewed the notice and has withdrawn the fine.“Council monitors compliance in zones that have an impact on pedestrian and road-user safety – such as bicycle lanes like in this case,” a City of Adelaide spokesperson said.“Council has a well-established review process that allows motorists to seek a reassessment of an expiation where they believe relevant circumstances should be considered. A second Park Safe vehicle was recently deployed. Adelaide City Council“Where a review determines the driver was stopped only long enough to read a sign or was in the process of parking, the expiation may be withdrawn.“We note the customer contested the expiation notice which was promptly reviewed by staff and subsequently withdrawn.”The council said images taken by the Park Safe vehicle are reviewed by trained officers to verify whether an offence has occurred.The council notes the technology is being used in other major council areas, including Brisbane, Logan Ipswich, Gold Coast and Geelong.Council expands Park Safe useComplaints have mounted over the Park Safe vehicles, which have been in use since 2021, with many raising concerns it has been falsely catching out drivers.Adelaide City Council released a review into the technology in May and has committed to humanising the process.City of Adelaide councillor Keiran Snape said at least two human officers would review every expiation.“In several specific circumstances, there will be leniency shown by the council officers,” he told 9News in May.The Park Safe vehicle issued more than 31,000 fines in 2024-25, increasing to 35,000 last financial year.More CoverageFury over Aus councils’ $4m ‘fine machine’Danielle CollisBillionaire to build Commodores in Aus againDavid McCowenAt the end of Q3 for 2025/26 Park Safe issued 27,104 fines, the report revealed, with 2,353 requests for review from drivers and 702 withdrawn.The report revealed it would expand the zones monitored by the vehicles to include paid parking bays, followed by time-limited unpaid parking bays.The second vehicle has been focused on data collection and supporting monitoring the existing zones covered by the first vehicle.Read related topics:AdelaideMore related storiesCourts & LawIndia hit man plot accused sacks 4th lawyerAn Australian man accused of hiring a hit man in India to kill his father-in-law has sacked his fourth lawyer the day before trial.Read moreFlight UpdatesQantas launches massive Frequent Flyer saleQantas has launched a massive new sale, offering Frequent Flyer members up to 30 per cent off Classic Flight Reward seats until 2027.Read moreCosts‘Concerning’: Fresh Middle East fuel price fearTensions flaring in another region of the Middle East could put “upward pressure” on fuel prices, hitting Australians at the bowser.Read more