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Millions of Dollars in AI Camera Fines Wiped as Thousands of WA Drivers Successfully Appeal Infringements

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Date Published
21 Apr 2024
Priority Score
2
Australian
Yes
Created
21 Apr 2026, 02:00 pm

Authors (1)

Description

<p>One driver was hit with more than $2000 in fines and 20 demerits, starting a four-month battle and putting his livelihood at stake.</p>

Summary

This report details the administrative failure of AI-based road safety enforcement cameras in Western Australia, which led to $2.2 million in fines being overturned due to procedural issues and identification errors. The system penalized drivers multiple times for repeated offenses before they were notified of the first infraction, highlighting significant flaws in the feedback loops of automated governance systems. While the article does not address existential risk, it underscores critical concerns regarding the deployment of automated decision-making systems in public infrastructure and the legal accountability frameworks required for government AI implementation. It is highly relevant to Australian AI policy discourse concerning the reliability and social license of automated enforcement technologies.

Body

Thousands of West Australian drivers have successfully appealed artificial intelligence-based camera infringements, wiping $2.2 million in fines.But as pressure mounts to press pause on the controversial cameras, the government says it's going to roll out even more.Over the past six months more than 54,000 infringements have been issued to WA drivers for incorrectly wearing a seatbelt or not wearing one at all.READ MORE: Man attacked by 'large crocodile' flown to Perth for surgeryThousands of WA drivers have successfully appealed AI camera infringements, wiping $2.2 million in fines. (9News)The acts have been caught by AI cameras, with new data revealing nearly $10 million in fines have been issued since they officially launched in October.Perth father Steven Shaw is one of those fined.Over a two-month period, between December and January, his passenger was caught four times by AI cameras improperly wearing her seatbelt on the freeway."When you're driving 100[km/h] down the freeway, there's no safe way you can safely monitor a passenger's seatbelt location without potentially causing an accident," Shaw told 9News.As the driver, Steve Shaw was hit with more than $2000 in fines and 20 demerits, starting a four-month battle and putting his livelihood at stake. (9News)But, as the driver, he was hit with more than $2000 in fines and 20 demerits, starting a four-month battle and putting his livelihood at stake."There was two or three weeks where I didn't know if I'd lost my licence, I was in limbo and my wife driving much of the time," Shaw said.Shaw challenged his infringements, with the Department of Transport withdrawing all but the first one, which he'll contest in court.The father is one of 2800 drivers who've successfully appealed their infringement notices, wiping $2.2 million in fines."AI cameras in my opinion are not suitable for this form of infringement, they are for speeding and phones," Shaw said.The acts have been caught by AI cameras, with new data revealing nearly $10 million in fines have been issued since they officially launched in October. (9News)WA Premier Roger Cook said it's not the AI cameras' fault but that the driver gets clocked multiple times in a short window."People are often getting penalised once, twice or three times before they're even aware that a fine has been raised in their name," Cook said.Despite the AI camera backlash, the WA government plans to roll out even more within the next six months.The opposition says the government needs to iron out the issues before launching more."The government haven't gotten it right," Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said."It needs to be tweaked and they need to get it right before more fines are issued."NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google PlayMake 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box hereSign up to our breaking newsletter here