AI road cameras rake in $100m as drivers fight finesAussies have been hit with more than $100m in fines via ‘AI ‘cops, it has been revealed - and it’s just the start of what’s coming.Danielle Collis2 min readFebruary 11, 2026 - 1:57PMMotoringMore than $100 million was pulled from NSW drivers last financial year through AI-assisted traffic enforcement cameras, as tens of thousands of motorists were fined for mobile phone use and seatbelt breaches.In 2024-25, around 130,000 fines were issued for camera-detected mobile phone use, while more than 126,000 fines were issued for seatbelt noncompliance.Revenue NSW data shows those camera-issued offences alone generated more than $100 million in penalty revenue, with seatbelt enforcement, introduced only on 1 July 2024, accounting for more than $50 million in fines in its first year.Mobile phone detection cameras, which have been operating since 2019, generated a similar amount in penalties over the same period, according to Revenue NSW’s camera-issued infringement data.MORE: Chinese car giant BYD tackles customer frustration after rapid Australian growthAI cameras catch drivers without a seatbelt or while on their mobile phone. Picture: VicPolA Transport for NSW spokesman said the cameras were introduced to improve safety and reduce serious injuries on the state’s roads. “Transport for NSW uses AI-assisted traffic enforcement cameras to help improve road safety and reduce deaths and serious injuries on NSW roads,” the spokesman said. In NSW, both mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras - fixed and transportable rely on artificial intelligence to identify potential offences. “These camera systems use a number of cameras and an infrared flash to capture clear images of passing vehicles in all traffic and weather conditions,” the spokesman said. Transport NSW said the systems are AI-assisted, not fully automated, with images reviewed by trained staff before any infringement notice is issued.“AI software checks the images to identify possible offences,” a Transport for NSW spokesman said. MORE: Winners, losers of Albo’s new ‘car tax’ revealedRoadside safety cameras have picked up shocking driver behaviour. Picture: NewsWire Handout“Images that do not show an offence are automatically removed and permanently deleted, usually within an hour. Images that may show an offence are then reviewed by trained staff before any further action is taken.”Parliamentary data shows that human review plays a significant role in final enforcement outcomes, particularly for the newly introduced seatbelt cameras.In the first year of seatbelt enforcement, 85,328 potential seatbelt offences were flagged by the AI system, but only 72,104 fines were ultimately issued, meaning about 16 per cent of detections were rejected following human review.NSW has not released equivalent figures for mobile phone detection cameras, nor data showing how many camera-issued fines are later withdrawn or overturned through the courts.Criminal defence lawyers say the lack of publicly available accuracy and appeal data is concerning, given the scale of enforcement and the revenue involved.Astor Legal principal criminal lawyer Avinash Singh said his firm was seeing a growing number of drivers contesting AI-detected fines, particularly for alleged mobile phone use.“AI cameras are notoriously unreliable at detecting mobile phone use in particular. This is because the technology often mistakes other objects for mobile phone cameras,” he said.“Some examples from recent cases we have acted in include wallets, glasses cases and battery packs.”AI enforcement is like something out of Robocop.More Coverage‘Unhinged’: Aus Tesla owners’ GoFundMe furyDavid McCowenCan F1 turbocharge an icon?Danielle CollisMr Singh said that while transport authorities maintain that humans check all images before fines are issued, drivers still have the right to challenge penalties they believe are incorrect.“To challenge an AI-based detection, the fine first needs to be elected to court without being paid,” he said. “The case will then be set for a hearing, where the driver should have a criminal defence lawyer appear for them to present evidence and argue why the prosecution cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the AI-based image shows a mobile phone.”Join the conversationAdd your comment to this storyTo join the conversation, please log in. 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