Queensland motorist claims she was fined after ‘covert’ camera snapped her doing something completely legal

A Queensland motorist has hit out after she was fined more than $1000 due to a “covert” camera snapping her doing something she says is legal.

A driver has been fined $1000 after a traffic camera accused her of being on her phone - when really, she claims, she was vaping.

Lillian Morrow was on the M1 Pacific Motorway at Coomera on the Gold Coast in August when a roadside camera, which uses artificial intelligence to identify rule-breaking motorists, took an image of her that was later used as proof she was using her mobile phone while driving.

The camera was reportedly a new “covert” cam that is designed to be hard for drivers to spot.

It landed her with a $1078 fine.

But Ms Morrow, 19, has said she was not using her phone at all and is happy to go to court to contest the penalty.

Lillian Morrow from Brisbane has disputed a fine from Queensland's TMR. Picture: Facebook.

In a social media message, she claimed the photo actually showed her vaping.

“Quite clearly holding my trusty vape and my phone is on the passenger seat,” she claimed in the post.

Ms Morrow, from Brisbane, said she had elected for the case to be heard in court a month ago but “hasn’t heard anything”.

The image posted is seemingly unclear.

It shows a driver with one hand on the wheel and another close to the face in a pose which could indicate the driver is holding a mobile phone. But it’s conceivable it is alternatively holding a vape.

Lillian Morrow’s car as snapped by Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads. Picture: Facebook.

Vaping while driving is legal in Queensland so long as the driver is alone.

The Facebook post has met with a mixed response. Some have supported Ms Morrow’s claim.

“The fact that people can’t agree on what it actually is, is proof enough in itself it should be thrown out,” said one.

But others have said the image indicates someone using a phone.

“Why does it look like a power cord is running over your seatbelt and up to your vape, and why is your vape being held to the left side of your face?”

Ms Morrow said she was vaping, not using a mobile. Picture: Facebook.

Ms Morrow said it wasn’t a phone cord hanging down from the phone but actually one of the cords of her hoodie.

The Courier Mail reported that Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has dismissed Ms Morrow’s assertion and said the cameras have the latest technology to detect offences.

“The camera’s images are filtered by artificial intelligence software,” A TMR spokesman said in a statement.

“If a possible offence is detected, the image is reviewed by an authorised TMR officer to determine if an offence has been committed.”