NSW speed camera operator reveals how fast drivers can go before they are booked

A mobile speed camera operator has divided drivers after claiming motorists are allowed to travel a certain speed over the limit before they are booked.

The speed camera operator made the ridiculous claim to a motorist while refueling his car at a petrol station in Sydney. 

Edward McDonald had refueled his motorcycle and was standing nearby with a group of friends when he was approached by the operator.

He shared a video of the exchange to TikTok on Sunday, claiming he ‘got an inside tip’ from a ‘speed camera dude’. 

The operator is seen in the video telling the young men they can go 10 per cent over the speed limit without copping a fine.  

‘I’ll tell you something boys, you can do 10 per cent over any f*****g speed limit before you get pulled,’ he said. 

The skeptical young man asks, ‘Even on your camera?’

‘Yep,’ the man responded.

Edward explained in the video’s caption that he is ‘not going to test it out’ as he fears the man’s claims might be a trap. 

Social media users agreed with many claiming they were fined for doing less than 10km/h over the speed limit. 

‘I got fined from a mobile speed camera for doing “under 5km over” in New South Wales,’ one wrote. 

‘Nah it’s not 10 over his trying to make extra money from the people he gets. It’s like 5 over that’s it,’ another person commented. 

A third person chimed: ‘on a mobile speed camera I’ve been done 3km/h over.’

‘Definitely tryna get a commission off you,’ a fourth person added. 

Other users claimed people were confused between 10 per cent over and 10km/h over the speed limit.

‘It’s up to 10 per cent. Anything over 10 per cent you get booked. Example: 100km/h zone equals extra 10km/h. Anything over you’re gone,’ one person commented. 

‘It’s not 10km it’s 10 per cent. So 4 over 40, 5 over 50, and so on,’ another person wrote. 

Mobile speed camera vehicles in NSW equipped to carry portable warning signs in a reversal of the previous state government’s decision to remove the signs in 2020.

Mobile speed camera vehicles in NSW equipped to carry portable warning signs in a reversal of the previous state government’s decision to remove the signs in 2020

The speed camera operator (left) told Edward (right) and his friends they could do 10 per cent above the legal speed limit without getting a fine. Edward said he would not test it out as he fears the man’s claim might be a trap

Warning signs must now be displayed during enforcement, including a retractable rooftop sign, two portable signs placed on approach to every mobile speed camera vehicle and one after.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said he wanted ‘an end to the secrecy’ with motorists having clear warning signs ahead of speed cameras to remind them to slow down.

‘I would rather people slow down in the first place than receive a fine in the mail two weeks after they committed the offence,’ Premier Chris Minns said. 

Mr Minns said the former government went from collecting about $4million a year in low-range speeding fines to about $45million during one financial year.

The number of fines where the speed limit was exceeded by 10km/h or less went from 3,222 in October 2020 to 27,855 by February 2021.

Following community backlash, the signs were partially reintroduced to return to the top of speed camera vehicles in 2021 but gave drivers no advance warning.