Location of first fixed AI camera in Perth’s north revealed as road fine revenue tipped to surge
Close to half a billion dollars in extra fine revenue will be cut by the Cook Government as part of the expanded deployment of AI road safety cameras.
A new permanent seat belt and cell phone violation detection camera has been installed on Mitchell Highway near Vincent Street in Leederville and will go live June 1.
Starting December 1, drivers will have a six-month grace period during which they will be issued warnings for seatbelt and phone violations before violations are enforced.
It is the third permanent security camera installed on the Kwinana Highway, with two installed last year.
Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said the state expects to generate $440 million in extra penalty revenue from cameras over the next four years.
“We’ve seen crime rates go down significantly,” he said.
“We are still seeing an increase in income as this technology is used, technology has a positive impact on behavior so we want to achieve this for the benefit of Western Australians.
“There will come a point where we introduce technology and as a result there is so much change in behavior that our revenues start to decline, and I’m looking forward to that.
“If I got $0 because it doesn’t bother anyone, I would be a very happy Minister of Road Safety.”
Credit: Carwyn Monck/Western Australia
The rollout of mobile AI cameras has caused major headaches for the Cook Government and drivers who have been warned of violations they say are unfair.
Almost 300 fines were issued each day between October 8 and April 17, but more than $1 million in fines during the same period were overturned on appeal.
Public outrage led to a review by the Department for Transport, which changed its policy of waiving multiple violations issued to drivers for the same offense before receiving notice of the first fine.
Mr Whitby declined to confirm the same would be true of the new fixed camera.
“We’ll look at the data and see what that tells us, and if there are people who are committing crimes and need that help, they’ll take that into consideration,” he said.
