Motorists claim the Hinterland Way speed camera near Bangalow is faulty and triggering unjustified fines

Drivers claim this Northern Rivers camera is registering speeds that are out by more than 20km/h, resulting in massive fines. But one man believes it’s easy to prove the device is faulty.

Samuel Anthonysz will fight a speeding fine his wife is alleged to have incurred on Hinterland Way near Bangalow. A large number of people are claiming the fixed speed camera in the 60km/h zone is faulty.

North Coast motorists are looking to take a stand against fines from a fixed speed camera which they believe is faulty.

It began with a Facebook post; Samuel Anthonysz was wondering if others had experienced issues with the speed camera on Hinterland Way between Ewingsdale and Bangalow.

The South Golden Beach resident has received a $490 fine, with claims his car was travelling at 84km/h in the 60km/h zone on April 8.

He said after voicing his concerns, about half a dozen others said they were shocked to receive fines from the same date.

Mr Anthonysz said his wife was driving his car that day and is absolutely certain she wasn’t speeding.

He said he’d used photos of the car from the camera, considering the distance between the car in both images, to calculate her speed at below 60km/h.

Other drivers have said they received fines after watching their speeds closely on the stretch of road, or setting cruise control.

The speed camera on Hinterland Way near Bangalow. Picture: Google.

Mr Anthonyszis writing to local MPs, asking for more transparency on data related to speed cameras, including how often they’re calibrated and if they’re found to have a fault.

“There should be something else in place so that the public can put confidence in these devices,” he said.

“If we have them, the public should be confident that they’re accurate.”

He said he and his wife would ask for the fine to be reviewed.

His online post and another similar one have amassed hundreds of responses, suggesting the issue has been widespread.

“I’ve double checked and tripe checked the math and the photos,” he said.

“We’re definite that she’s only doing 55, 56.

“There’s so many people like us that are really aware of that camera and make sure that we’re under.”

He said his post had led to a chat group between motorists who believe they’ve been incorrectly fined, with about 30 members so far.

“Everybody says the same, I was definitely not speeding,” he said.

The speed camera on Hinterland Way near Bangalow. Picture: Google.

“I think at this stage nobody wants to go to court because even if we win we know it costs us money and time.

“At this stage everybody is asking for a review (and) hoping the fine is withdrawn.

“It must be thousands of cars go past there every day.”

Mr Anthonysz said he was writing to federal MP for Richmond Justine Elliot asking for a range of changes.

“If we must have speed detection devices then the public should be able to have confidence in their accuracy,” he said.

He said motorists should not be penalised for “inaccurate speed detections” and it should be easier for fine recipients to access photos of their vehicles passing the camera.

“Real time data should be published on a website somewhere showing the number of allegations, speed date and time,” he said.

He has also called for data on when cameras are calibrated, and details of any inaccuracies are detected, to be made public.

Transport for NSW has been approached for comment.