The state government is encouraging Western Australians caught by AI-driven traffic cameras to appeal to the already under-pressure Department of Transport, as more motorists come forward with concerns over the fines handed out.
More than 40,000 fines have been issued in the past six months, with motorists who have copped fines after being snapped by the AI traffic cameras taking their fight to court.
Sean Sheriff’s wife was snapped by an AI camera – easing her belt off her sore waist on Christmas Day last year.
Her husband received a $550 fine and the loss of eight demerit points over the transgression.
The 80-year-old woman has since passed away from cancer.
Sheriff has appealed to the Department of Transport and is yet to receive a reply.
“She was in such agony – it was absolutely unbelievable,” he said.
“It’s unreal, it’s absolutely tragic. In my opinion, If I had been stopped by a police car or police motorcycle, or whatever, we would have explained the situation and said on your bike.”
Another motorist, who asked to remain anonymous, lives with a rare bone cancer and has a medical exemption that clears him of needing to wear a seatbelt.
To date, the man has racked up nearly 2000 demerit points and $20,000 in fines since October.
“On an impact, if my chest was going to take that, it would just crumble and go into my organs and there wouldn’t be much left of me,” the man said.
“It has occupied a lot of time, and it has been very frustrating.”
While most of the man’s fines have been withdrawn by the Department of Transport, he believes it is still an expensive and time-consuming task.
“They actually have to have someone sitting there physically watching, which to me as a taxpayer is also a hell of a waste of money,” he said.
Premier Roger Cook said it was important people had an opportunity to appeal any transgressions caught by the cameras.
“The important thing we have is make sure that people have the opportunity to appeal and hear about individual circumstances,” he said.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said her department was looking into the issue.
“There’s been a lot of fines and a lot of appeals, again I’ll seek further advice in relation to resourcing,” she said.
The Road Safety Commission is currently reviewing the penalties and is expected to hand down a verdict next year.
However, former chair of the WA branch of the Chartered Institute of Transport Ross Taylor believes that will be too late for those impacted.
“To say it will be looked at next year which means they’ll pick up another $100 million in fines in the interim is totally objectionable,” he said.
“It’s obscene and a despicable act of poor government.”
9News Perth
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