Aussie drivers stung by AI-powered seat belt cameras have criticised the hefty fines, saying they feel ‘guilty until proven innocent’.
More than 53,000 infringements worth over $29million have been issued to Western Australians since the controversial technology went live in early October 2025.
The Department of Transport has withdrawn about 2,050 of those, meaning about $1million in fines have been waived.
A total of 3,381 fines were also appealed, and about 60 per cent were cancelled.
Ross Taylor, a Perth grandfather campaigning against the AI cameras, has described the technology as a ‘fiasco’.
‘These cameras should be catching people who are holding a phone whilst driving and those who are not wearing their lap belt – which we know accounts for only 10-15 per cent of all seat belt fines,’ he told The West.
‘The really big money is for sash belt related offences that do not cost virtually any lives, whilst bringing in $550 for each offence.
‘This shows we have a system now in place whereby motorists are found to be ‘guilty until proven innocent’ by the AI camera technology unless they have the confidence to challenge the authorities – in which case they have a 60 per cent probability of winning their appeal. How shocking.’
More than 53,000 seatbelt misuse infringement fine – worth over $29million – have been issued to people in Western Australia since early October
Ross Taylor (pictured), a Perth grandfather who is advocating against the AI cameras, has described the technology as a ‘fiasco’
Perella Legal barrister Tom Dellar revealed in March the firm had been approached by more than 80 people furious about their fines.
‘The cameras only capture a single moment in time,’ he told The Sydney Morning Herald. ‘If the driver honestly believed their passenger was properly belted up and it was reasonable for the driver to believe that then they may have a defence.’
But WA Police and Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby has insisted the cameras are saving lives.
‘These new safety cameras have actually changed (driver) behaviour on our roads,’ he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
‘We’re seeing offences being picked up at a scale we’ve not seen before because the cameras actually look down into the (vehicle) cabin. That’s a good thing.’
Less than four per cent of all seat belt fines issued had been withdrawn, he said, adding: ‘The vast majority of fines are accurate.’
‘If you do think you’ve been wronged, and it’s unfair, you will get a fair crack, and you will be considered,’ the safety minister said.
Some people have also copped multiple fines in one day for the same offences, but Whitby said these had been waived.
From October 8 last year, fines and demerit points have been applied for mobile phone, seatbelt, and speeding offences detected by the new AI safety cameras
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Other drivers have been fined after their passengers were recorded not wearing a seat belt or wearing it incorrectly.
The Road Safety Commissioner said a review would be conducted into all infringements issued across the state, including AI traffic camera fines.
He said more AI traffic cameras would be rolled out across WA in a careful and considered way.
From October 8, fines and demerit points have been applied for mobile phone, seat belt, and speeding offences detected by the new safety cameras.
All funds from new safety camera infringements go directly into the Road Trauma Trust Account and must be used for road safety initiatives.
