Phone and seatbelt detection cameras coming to Victoria after two-year trial

Victorian drivers have been put on notice with the State Government announcing new portable camera units – able to detect mobile phone and seatbelt offences – will soon be deployed across the state after the two-year trial of the technology.

Three mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras will be in operation by mid-2023 – and a total of six planned in the coming years – with the project coming at a cost of $33.7 million to the state.

Each portable unit uses two high-resolution cameras and infrared lighting technology – which works day or night – and combines it with artificial intelligence (AI) software analysing each photo to determine whether drivers are using a handheld mobile phone and wearing a seatbelt.

If the AI software detects the driver doing something wrong, the photo is automatically flagged for review by human eye – otherwise, the image is rejected.

The rollout follows the introduction of phone-detection camera technology in NSW and Queensland. Other states and territories are due to follow.

The minimum fine in Victoria for not wearing a seatbelt is $370, while offences for using a mobile phone illegally start from $555 and come with a penalty of four demerit points.

The Victorian Government has announced there will be a three-month grace period in which drivers will be sent a warning letter rather than receiving a fine and demerit points.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice told Drive phone detection cameras – mounted on a small trailer similar to portable lighting towers used in works zones – will be deployed at more than 200 sites across Victoria for several days at a time, with each unit able to detect offences across at least two lanes of traffic.