Qld mobile phone, seatbelt cameras go live: What you can and can’t do explained

After a covert camera trial caught thousands using their phones or driving without a seatbelt, the time for warnings is over. WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T DO

Drivers busted on covert camera illegally using their mobile phones or not buckling up will be slapped with hefty fines from midnight, with authorities warning the time for second chances is over.

The hi-tech cameras have nabbed thousands of reckless motorists since they were switched on in July, with more than $20 million in fines racked up if not for a three-month grace period.

A total of 21,599 warning letters have been sent to registered vehicle owners – 18,313 were for mobile phone ­offences and 3286 for seatbelt offences.

But from 12.01am tomorrow, Queensland motorists will cop more than a warning letter.

“We’ve given drivers ample time to get used to the cameras and change their reckless behaviour,” Transport Minister Mark Bailey said.

“Now there are no second chances and we will be penalising drivers doing the wrong thing.”

A driver detected using a mobile phone

Drivers observed resting the device on any part of their body, such as on their lap, will be deemed to have broken the rules and issued a $1033 fine and docked four demerit points.

Motorists caught not buckling up or not using a seatbelt correctly will lose three demerit points and cop a $413 fine.

Assistant Police Commissioner Ben Marcus said the introduction of airbags, roadside breath tests and mandatory seatbelts had significantly lowered the state’s road toll since the 1970s – and he believed the cameras would have “similar impact”.

After personally viewing the still images from the cameras, Mr Marcus said it “defied belief” people still chose to not wear seatbelts, and even deliberately tried to override safety warning systems.

“One thing that really frustrates the hell out of me is people who do their seatbelt up to stop that annoying little beeping sound,” he said.

“They actually sit on the seatbelt.

“I cannot begin to imagine why somebody would do that but we still see it in traffic crashes – someone is outside the vehicle deceased on the road and their seatbelt is done up in the red bit.”

A motorist detected without a seatbelt

Authorities are keeping the locations of the fixed and mobile cameras secret and drivers have been warned they could be caught anywhere at any time – including on regional highways.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads confirmed that the images are filtered with artificial intelligence software which detects any possible offence.

If the cameras detect an offence, the image is reviewed by an authorised Department of Transport officer before a fine is issued.

Images are deleted within the hour if no crime has been committed, but images that show an offence are passed on to the department and retained for auditing purposes.

Motorists who are issued fines will also receive three images – a wide shot of the vehicle, a close-up of the illegal behaviour and a shot of the number plate.

They will have 28 days to request the fine be transferred to another person or contest the fine by electing to have the matter heard in court.

Originally published as Qld mobile phone, seatbelt cameras go live: What you can and can’t do explained