AI cameras under fire after a staggering 60 per cent of motorists win appeal over seatbelt fines

Sixty per cent of WA motorists who appealed against controversial AI camera seatbelt fines have had their penalties withdrawn, The West Australian can reveal. More than $1 million in fines have been cancelled after hundreds of drivers successfully contested their fines amid a public outcry which led to a review of the cameras. Data provided by the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure show that as of April 17 a staggering 53,890 seatbelt infringements - almost 300 a day - were issued between 8 October and 17 April 2026. This equates to more than $29m in fines revenue. In that time 3381 requests for review were submitted by offending motorists, and infringements have since been withdrawn for 2,043 customers. A department spokesman said some infringements were withdrawn in instances where a number of offences were detected over a short period of time, “and the driver has had no opportunity to modify their behaviour.” “Every infringement image is reviewed prior to an infringement being issued by a DTMI officer, as is every request for review,” the spokesman said. “Outcomes of reviews are determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account individual circumstances and evidence provided.” The department said motorists were responsible for ensuring all passengers in their vehicle, including children, are appropriately restrained. The spokesman said the advanced technology safety cameras are strengthening road safety. Much of criticism of the cameras has centred around motorists copping penalties over the actions of their passengers. Hundreds of people have joined an online community group calling for changes to the policy. In comments shared on the page, one motorist revealed he had been fined four separate times relating to the same passenger. Two had since been withdrawn. Others said they had been waiting weeks for a response from the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure after requesting an infringement review. Motorists who request a review are being told to expect a reply to emails within 20 business days, attributing delays in response times to “an increase in our workload.” In late February, the Road Safety Commission ordered a review into the AI seatbelt cameras after it emerged drivers had been slugged more than $1 million in fines on average every week. The eight-fold increase in infringements in the 19 weeks to February 18 cost drivers $20 million in penalties. Many of the offences related to passengers, including children, who were wearing their seatbelt incorrectly. Ross Taylor started the online advocacy group and said he knew of five people in the past week whose infringements had been cancelled after they elected to take the matter to court. In each case officials elected not to pursue the penalties through the courts. “The whole AI campaign is a fiasco. These cameras should be catching people who are holding a phone whilst driving and those those who are not wearing their lap belt - which we know accounts for only 10-15 per cent of all seat belt fines,” Mr Taylor said. “The really big money is for sash belt related offences that do not cost virtually any lives, whilst bringing in $550 for each offence. “This shows we have a system now in place whereby motorists are found to be ‘guilty until proven innocent’ by the AI camera technology unless they have the confidence to challenge the authorities - in which case they have a 60 per cent probability of winning their appeal. How shocking.”