Legislation to allow new cameras to catch drivers using mobile phones passes parliament

Mobile-phone detection cameras will arrive on SA roads next year – but questions still surround what offences motorists can be fined for.

Controversial mobile-phone detection cameras will appear on SA roads from next year after legislation passed SA parliament.

Confusion still surrounds just what motorists might be fined for, but the $10.7m cameras’ rollout includes a three-month grace and education period.

Earlier this month, a Brisbane woman was fined in Queensland after similar cameras caught her driving with her phone in her bra, but was not actually using it.

Police Minister Joe Szakacs told ABC Radio said the cameras’ exact locations were yet to be determined, but they would be fixed, with the possibility to be rotated over time.

“The locations will be advised by road safety experts, the department for Infrastructure and Transport and also through independent researchers who feed advice into government,” he said.

“We’ve got quite sophisticated data right across our road network system and we’ll put these cameras in those locations where people are known to be doing the wrong thing.”

The technology will be able to detect a range of illegal uses of mobile phones and other smart devices from hundreds of metres away.

However, confusion still surrounds what offences will be punishable under law.

Mr Szakacs said there are prescribed uses for mobile phone use while driving.

“Phones can utilise Bluetooth through cars or you can put your phone in a manufactured-for-use cradle,” he said.

A drivers is caught using their phone in Brisbane. Picture: AAP / Josh Woning

Physically touching the handset is allowed only when the device is in the cradle.

He said touching the phone, when in a cradle, was allowed to access GPS.

“If it’s in a manufactured-for-use cradle designated for this specific use (GPS), that is okay,” he said.

The Minister also confirmed adjusting the radio was not considered illegal, but distracted driving took into account a series of activities.

It not yet known if signs will be erected to alert motorists to the cameras’ presence.

“We’ll let people know ahead of the rollout what the final outcome there will be,” Mr Szakacs said. “It may be that some of these signposted, (or) an option where these are deployed more discreetly.

“We don’t want people caught, we don’t want people fined, we want people putting their phones down.”

Mr Szakacs said the legislation will provide SA Police with more tools to combat inattention on our roads.

“Inattention is the leading cause of death and serious injury on South Australian roads, a stark fact that demonstrates the importance of legislation such as the introduction of MPDCs,” he said.

SA Police Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott added, “the prevention of one death or serious injury through detecting illegal mobile phone use will make the introduction of this technology worthwhile.”

Police Minister Joe Szakacs. Picture: David Mariuz

The photos and in some cases short videos captured will be reviewed by police before fines or expiation notices are issued.

Earlier this year, figures revealed the project was expected to rake in tens of millions of dollars in revenue with 37,230 people forecast to be caught in 2023/24 and 28,105 the following year.

The current expiation fee for using a mobile phone while driving is $565 plus a $94 victims of crime levy. The offence also attracts three demerit points.

Authorities say the money will be invested in the Community Road Safety Fund.

The technology already operates in NSW and Queensland and is also being trialled for use in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.