Western Australia has rescinded approximately 5,700 seatbelt fines issued by AI-assisted traffic cameras, following a surge in complaints and appeals. The cameras, introduced in October 2025, have generated 81,412 infringements primarily for passengers not wearing seatbelts correctly. Drivers who contested these penalties have successfully had their fines, each carrying a $550 penalty and four demerit points, withdrawn.
Western Australian Police Commissioner Col Blanch stated that many of the revoked penalties lacked sufficient evidence. "We don't want to waste the courts' time on a matter we aren't going to win anyway," Blanch told 102.5 ABC Perth, adding that a review of penalties from the AI cameras is currently underway.
Drivers have reported being fined for infractions they were unaware of, citing situations where their attention was focused on the road. One motorist, Lisa Taylor, received a fine after her 10-year-old daughter was caught not wearing her seatbelt properly. Taylor stated that a police prosecutor eventually withdrew the fine after she appealed, noting that authorities do not expect drivers to constantly monitor passengers.
Another case involved Emily Esplan's husband, who was fined after an AI camera captured Esplan's seatbelt slipping off her shoulder as she reached to give their child a bottle. While some drivers received direct notification of the fine reversal, others, like Esplan's husband, were only informed through letters stating that prosecution would not proceed due to insufficient evidence.
The Road Safety Commission has defended the AI cameras, asserting their effectiveness in deterring phone use and incorrect seatbelt usage while driving. The commission noted that from 2013 to 2023, an average of 20% of motor vehicle occupant fatalities involved individuals not wearing seatbelts. Following awareness campaigns and enforcement, this figure reportedly decreased to 13.8% in 2025.