Backlash deepens over AI seatbelt cameras as drivers fined for passengers’ behaviour

Frustration is deepening over AI-assisted road safety cameras pinging drivers for passengers' behaviour, with one Perth grandfather offering assistance to help people appeal their infringements.

The cameras were rolled out across Western Australia last year, using artificial intelligence to detect potentially unlawful mobile phone and incorrect seatbelt use, with fines sent to the driver after being reviewed by police.

Since last October, around 36,000 seatbelt infringements have been sent out, with penalties starting at $550 and four demerit points.

But after backlash from drivers being punished for passengers' behaviour — including young children and neurodivergent people incorrectly wearing seatbelts unbeknownst to the driver — the state's Road Safety Commissioner has ordered a review of the process.

People power

Ross Taylor's daughter, Lisa, was fined $550 after one of the cameras caught her young daughter improperly wearing her seatbelt.

Lisa's story, published by the ABC last week, prompted an avalanche of similar complaints on talkback radio and social media.

Mr Taylor said it highlighted the scale of the issue and drove him to act, offering to help anyone fined for an AI-identified seatbelt breach to appeal.

Mr Taylor said he had spent over an hour on hold to the Department of Transport to appeal his daughter's fine, which many did not have time to do, and when he did get to speak to someone, they did not seem briefed on the relevant legislation.

He pointed out that a driver caught doing up to 29 kilometres over the speed limit would face a $400 fine and three demerit points.

Mr Taylor said it made no sense to him that a driver caught "hooning" on the freeway would be fined less than someone whose child had briefly shifted their seatbelt.

"This actually happened to my family again yesterday with one of our young grandchildren — if one of them slips that shoulder strap just down for a moment, generally you don't even see it. And that's what happened to us in that minute," he said.

"Everyone agrees that before you head off, of course, you make sure that your kids and your mum and your passengers are fastened in with a seatbelt. But in the event that you're on a freeway … we educate people remain focused, do not be distracted when you're driving.

Meanwhile, disability support worker Elli Figomnari recently received four infringements in the mail relating to seatbelt breaches from the neurodivergent client she was driving, and is now facing the potential loss of her licence.

"It's beyond nerve-wracking. I'm a full-time single mum, and my work means everything to me … and my clients depend on me," she said.

"I've driven for over 20 years and to my best knowledge I've never received any … demerit points."

Appeal the fine: Minister

Ms Figomnari is one of hundreds of people planning to challenge the penalties, with the Department of Transport confirming additional staff have been assigned to deal with the volume of inquiries.

In one infringement seen by the ABC, the notice lists the offence "passenger not wearing or improperly adjusted seatbelt" taken from a camera on the Kwinana Freeway in South Perth.

The photo shows a woman in the passenger seat wearing a seatbelt, but with the strap dropped under her arm.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said people could appeal the fines for "exceptional circumstances". 

"I've heard it first hand from a lot of people who have had fines from the seatbelt issue," she said.

Meanwhile, former police officer and Labor MP Mark Folkard tapped into his personal experience in defending the laws.

"There are only three reasons why you get an exemption for not wearing a seatbelt," the former police officer said.

"One is you're reversing the car, the second one is you're a taxi driver, and the third one is if you have a medical condition that exempts. They are the only three reasons.

Review underway

WA's Road Safety Commission said a review of penalties was underway, including assessing whether infringements can be transferred from drivers to passengers who breached.

Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner said when the cameras were launched in 2025, he believed West Australians had a "culture problem" with mobile phone use.

"People adjust their behaviour quickly when they know they are going to get caught," Mr Warner said at the time.

The cameras were branded as the most advanced in Australia at the launch, capable of distinguishing between someone holding a phone and someone holding a packet of cigarettes.

But on Friday, Mr Warner conceded there were limitations.

"Police officers exercise discretion. It's hard for cameras to do that," he said.

"So we think there's a question that needs to be asked and answered around what's the proportionate fair common sense sort of approach we should take to these types of offences."

Road Policing Commander Mike Peters said there was a role for both in-person and camera infringements.

“The difference between AI cameras and our road policing officers that deal with it every day is the human interaction — the ability to be able to provide immediate corrective advice and apply discretion where possible,” he said.

“But we can't enforce the law at the volume that technology can.”