WA motorists have AI-generated fines overturned

Controversial cameras designed police the correct use of seatbelts in Western Australia have issued an average of 300 fines per day.

A report by the West Australian found that thousands of drivers have appealed fines issued by the system, and that around 60 per cent of them had fines overturned.

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It translates to more than $1 million in fines refunded by the state government.

WA Road Safety Mini Reece Whitby told ABC radio that more than 50,000 people have been busted doing the wrong thing by cameras that peer into cars from an elevated position, and that less than 4 per cent of offences have been overturned.

“These new safety cameras have actually changed behaviour, and I have no doubt they’ve actually saved lives,” he told ABC radio.

“We’re looking at rolling out more, but again, we want to take a very careful and staged approach.”
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Mr Whitby said the cameras were detecting offences “at a scale not seen before”. Some of the fines waived went to people who received multiple infringements, and complained that they were not given time to change their behaviour before receiving subsequent penalties.

Astor Legal principal criminal lawyer Avinash Singh told News Corp in March that his firm recorded growing number of drivers contesting AI-detected fines, particularly for alleged mobile phone use.

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“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.