‘Sneaky’ speed camera operators are ordered to STOP hiding – here’s how you could potentially escape your next fine
- Police have been banned from ‘hiding’ mobile speed cameras between cars
- Government received backlash over the controversial devices from residents
- Revenue from low-range speeding fines topped $47million over financial year
Police officers have been banned from ‘hiding’ mobile speed cameras between parked cars after massive backlash from residents.
New conditions for the use of the mobile speed cameras were unveiled during a Budget Estimates hearing last week which demand the vehicles parked ’10 to 15 metres’ from the nearest car.
The Transport for NSW office announced the change in response to complaints after seeing a huge spike in fines for low-range speeding offences picked up by hidden cameras.
Operators must also take a photograph of the location of the mobile speed camera and send it back to headquarters to ensure appropriate signage is visible.
The government warned people fines wouldn’t be automatically waived if signs weren’t visible – but encouraged people to ask for a review if thought think the signs weren’t properly displayed.
Police officers have been banned from ‘hiding’ mobile speed cameras between parked cars after massive backlash from residents
The move comes as a result of ‘community concerns’ over the ‘sneaky’ tactics of operators, according to Transport for NSW deputy secretary Tara McCarthy.
‘At the end of the day, if a person commits an offence, then they have committed an offence,’ she said.
‘They always have the ability to ask for that offence to be reviewed and individual cases will be considered.’
The Transport for NSW office has responded to complaints after seeing huge revenue for low-range speeding offences picked up by hidden cameras
Revenue data from low-range speeding fines (under 10km/h over the limit) increased by a mammoth 855 per cent from 2021 – a $47million cash injection for the government.
It makes up more than half of the total revenue of all speeding fines, which was $75million for the financial year.
January was the most profitable month for the Treasury, with an astonishing $7.8million in low-range fines and $12.5million total.
The community’s response to the mobile cameras has seen people placing homemade signs to warn motorists of the traps.
Labor promised to get rid of the mobile cameras if it wins the next state election in March, accusing the government of being disengenuous over their motives behind the cars.
‘The government has now spent millions of dollars on pop-up signs and introduced new rules to stop covert cameras, but why not just bring back these warning signs?’ state opposition roads spokesman John Graham said.
‘The opposition supports the return of warning signs before and after mobile speed camera vehicles. ‘That was the previous arrangement.
‘That will help maintain community support for mobile speed camera enforcement.’
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