Western Australia police dismiss hundreds of AI seatbelt fines over weak evidence
Police in Western Australia have abandoned hundreds of seat-belt infringement cases captured by AI cameras, citing insufficient proof that drivers knew passengers were unbuckled.
AI-assisted traffic cameras introduced by the Department of Transport in October have generated over 80,000 seat-belt infringement notices, each typically costing $550 and adding eight demerit points. Approximately 7 % of those, around 5,700 cases, have been overturned after drivers contested them. Police Commissioner Col Blanch explained that prosecutors are now dismissing hundreds of fines because the evidence does not show a reasonable prospect of conviction, noting that only about 0.1 or 0.2 % proceed to trial.
Many motorists learned of the dismissal through letters stating the matter would not be pursued, and some reported no contact at all. The Road Safety Commission reports that AI cameras have cut seat-belt and mobile-phone violations by 76 % between September 2025 and August 2026, contributing to a drop in seat-belt-related deaths from 20 % to 13.8 % of occupant fatalities. A review of the penalties and the system’s overall burden is underway.
Why it matters
The decision highlights challenges in enforcing AI-driven traffic laws when proof of driver responsibility is unclear.
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