AI traffic cameras in Western Australia issue fines for seatbelt violations
Western Australia deployed AI-powered traffic cameras that have issued fines for driving violations including improper seatbelt wearing. Some drivers report receiving multiple fines for the same infraction and losing their driving licenses, and claim the system fails to account for passengers' actions or medical exemptions.
What happened
Western Australia deployed AI-powered traffic cameras across the metropolitan area to detect driving violations. Between October 8 and November 8, the cameras issued fines, with the state government announcing it had dished out $13 million in fines in December.
One driver, Tom, received seven fines in a single day for driving with his seatbelt tucked under his arm at $500 per fine. Another driver, Janine, was fined twice over two days for a seatbelt violation involving her neurodivergent daughter as a passenger who was not wearing her seatbelt properly.
Reported impact
Drivers reported losing their driving licenses as a result of accumulated demerit points from the fines. Tom stated he would lose his license with four demerit points for each of the seven fines and said the $3,500 total did not seem proportionate to the offence.
Janine said she went from zero demerit points to losing her license and reported being the only working member of her family at the time. Drivers also voiced concerns that the system issued fines without giving them an opportunity to correct the behaviour first, unlike traditional traffic enforcement interactions.
Index analysis
Police Commissioner Col Blanch stated that every driver had a right to dispute the fines and acknowledged that AI cameras are new to the state. He noted that medical certificates exist that allow some drivers to not wear a seatbelt in certain circumstances, and suggested agencies would develop ways to avoid fining drivers incorrectly.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.