Millions to cop higher penalties as state faces 3.5 per cent fine hike

Millions of residents in a major state are facing a price hike for speeding fines and other traffic offences.

Queenslanders breaking the law will cop heftier fines in the coming months, as the government introduces a hike in its driving penalties for the next financial year.

This year, there will be a 3.5 per cent increase for traffic offences, the ABC reported.

The Queensland government is only able to hike its infringements with approval from Treasurer David Janetzki at the end of March.

Speeding fines will increase for Queenslanders this year. Picture: NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Last year, the former Labor government hiked up infringements by 4.2 per cent for the 2024-25 financial year, down from the 7.7 per cent increase the year before.

Mr Janetzki confirmed this year Queenslanders would not be subjected to a higher increase than the default rate, which is 3.5 per cent.

“Any change will be applied in accordance with the process under the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992,” a statement to the ABC read.

The infringement increase means anyone caught speeding up to 10km/h over the speed limit will cop a $333 fine, up $11 from last year.

Those who disobey stop signs or fail to give way to a pedestrian will face a $500 fine, increasing by $17 from the last financial year.

Drivers who are travelling more than 40km/h over the speed limit will cop a $1918 fine, increasing by $65 from the previous year.

There will be a $42 increase for those caught driving without a seatbelt or suing their phone, who will face a $1250 infringement.

Since the introduction of hi-tech cameras, there has been a hijge spike in mobile phone infringements. Picture: NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Those caught speeding will cop a higher fine than last year. Picture: NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

The increase in fines and forfeitures is anticipated to generate $912m in the 2025-26 budget, according to the report.

Last year’s budget had flagged revenue of $794m in the 2024-25 financial year, increasing from the $741m the year before.

In 2021, the state government introduced advanced detection cameras across Queensland, which have assisted in the skyrocketing number of infringements handed out to drivers.

Prior to installing the hi-tech cameras – which targets those using their phones while driving and those not wearing seatbelts – the SPER was chasing $8.7m in unpaid fines.

That figure has since jumped to $110m, with the SPER hunting down more than 100,000 unpaid fines.

There is also approximately $51m worth of unpaid seatbelt-related fines on the books.

NewsWire has contacted the Treasurer and SPER for comment.

Originally published as Millions to cop higher penalties as state faces 3.5 per cent fine hike