Aus drivers slam ‘unfair’ AI road camera fines amid calls for urgent changeAussie drivers have launched a fierce backlash against road cameras after receiving hundreds of dollars in “unfair” fines.Danielle Collis2 min readMarch 3, 2026 - 1:27PMMotoringWestern Australia drivers are pushing back against the state’s AI-powered road cameras, labelling some of the fines “unfair” and calling for urgent change to the way the system operates.The backlash has intensified over the past few weeks as drivers speak out after being fined hundreds of dollars and multiple demerit points.One of the cases involved WA father Paul Ferry, who was driving between Mindarie and Mandurah when his 85-year-old mother briefly pulled her seatbelt away from her body to speak to children in the back seat.AI cameras have caught thousands of driver without a seatbelt or while on their mobile phone in the first monthsince the system’s implementation. Picture: VicPolMORE: AI road cameras rake in $100m as drivers fight finesThat decision was captured by one of the state’s new AI cameras on the first day of double demerits over Christmas.Mr Ferry received a $550 fine and eight demerit points. His mother was “mortified” and “hasn’t stopped crying”, he told Yahoo News.Another driver, disability support worker Elli Figomnari, was issued four infringement notices after her neurodivergent client repeatedly breached seatbelt rules while she was behind the wheel. She told ABC she now risks losing her licence despite having a 20-year clean record. Under WA’s current system, camera-detected seatbelt offences operate under strict liability, meaning the driver can be penalised regardless of intent or awareness. WA’s Road Safety Commission said it is reviewing whether seatbelt infringements could be shifted from drivers to passengers who failed to comply. Across Australia, other states are also facing backlash. In NSW, more than $100 million was pulled from drivers in 2024-2025 through AI-assisted traffic enforcement cameras, with about 130,000 fines issued for mobile phone use and more than 126,000 for seatbelt noncompliance.A powerful all-in-one roadside “smart camera” that can spot everything from phone use to seatbelt violations has appeared on this busy Melbourne road.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.”Mr 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.More CoveragePortelli, Itsines’ shock move against EVsDavid McCowenCommon driveway act now cops huge finesDavid McCowen“To challenge an AI-based detection, the fine first needs to be elected to court without being paid,” he said.MORE: Winners, losers of Albo’s new ‘car tax’ revealedDrivers take AI camera fines to court as backlash grows. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling“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.”Read related topics:PerthJoin the conversationAdd your comment to this storyTo join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? RegisterJoin the conversation, you are commenting as LogoutMore related storiesMotoring NewsCommon driveway act now cops huge finesA common driveway act that many Australians perform, is now at the centre of hot debate after a controversial dob-in app.Read moreMotoringReason thousands of luxury vehicles recalledThousands of models of a luxury electric car sold across Australia have been recalled over a serious manufacturing defect found in the battery.Read moreMotoring NewsDriving EVs now ‘matter of national security’COMMENT: Aussie motorists can take action to limit theirs and Australia’s exposure to the Middle East conflict.Read more