Qld mobile phone, seatbelt cameras: Repeat offenders nabbed

Hundreds of drivers nabbed multiple times by new mobile phone and seatbelt cameras risk being sent a “notice to choose”.

Hundreds of reckless drivers have been nabbed multiple times using their mobile phones behind the wheel since new hi-tech cameras hit the roads – putting them at risk of having their licences torn up.

In just a two-month period – from November 1 to December 31 – there were 293 motorists who were busted flouting the mobile phone rules three times or more.

And over the same period, 867 drivers were caught out twice using their phone, setting them back thousands of dollars in fines.

Drivers who are nabbed once are hit with four demerit points, while those who are caught a second time within 12 months are stung with another eight demerit points – hitting the 12 point threshold.

Motorists who reach 12 points are sent a “notice to choose”, where they can either elect to have their licence suspended for a required period of time or agree to keep driving under a period of good behaviour for one year.

The 293 motorists who were caught three times or more collectively accumulated 1327 infringement notices, an average of 4.5 per driver.

A motorist snapped during last year’s trial of the cameras. Picture: Queensland Government

In total, there were 13,555 people who were nabbed breaking the mobile phone rules during the two-month period, with a total of 15,456 fines issued.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said it was the equivalent of having more than 15,000 drink-drivers on the road.

“What’s worse is over 1000 people were caught multiple times for this irresponsible act – for many people, that’s your licence gone,” Mr Bailey said.

“Learner and P-platers will face losing their licence for just one mobile phone infringement.

“Using your phone while driving is the equivalent of driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.07 to 0.10, so I make no apologies for being tough on dangerous behaviour.”

The current fine value for using a mobile phone behind the wheel is a massive $1033.

New cameras have been deployed on Queensland roads since November 1 that catch out those motorists who break the rules.

“It’s simple – if you don’t want a fine, don’t break the rules,” the Minister said.

“If we can stamp out this reckless behaviour, we will go a long way towards making Queensland roads safer, and reducing the number of lives lost on our roads.”

Drivers caught using their mobile phone between November 1 and December 31, 2021

Drivers fined once – 12,395

Drivers fined twice – 867

Drivers fined three times or more – 293