Driver fined $678 for wallet mistaken as phone
A South Australian man was fined $678 for having a wallet on his lap that a camera mistook for a phone.
A tradie and small business owner was fined by a mobile phone detection camera on the North-South Motorway in Adelaide. The system captured what it believed was a phone on his lap.
The object was actually his wallet, which he had placed there after paying at a service station. Mick sent a photo of his wallet and a statutory declaration to challenge the fine.
But South Australia Police rejected his evidence. Facing the cost of a court trial, the man pleaded guilty to get the fine reduced from $678 and three demerit points to just the fine.
The camera at Regency Park has issued more than 21,000 infringements since mobile phone detection cameras were introduced to South Australia in June 2024. The man said the AI system risks incorrectly penalising many others like himself.
- $678
- Fine amount
- 21,000+
- Camera infringements
- Regency Park
- Camera location
- June 2024
- Launch date
Why it mattersCamera-based fines now affect drivers across Australia, and this case highlights the challenges of appealing when the penalty costs more than fighting it in court.
AustraliaSouth Australian drivers caught by mobile detection cameras may find it harder and costlier to dispute fines than to accept them, even if they believe the charges are wrong.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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