Low-level speeding is the most prevalent type of speeding in Tasmania.
It doesn’t matter if you’re speeding by 15 km/hr or 4 km/hr because speeding by even a few kilometres over the limit is dangerous to you and other motorists. Over is over.
Speeding by just 5 km/h in a 60 km/h zone doubles the risk of being seriously or fatally injured during a crash. With so many drivers on the network low-level speeding, the overall increase in risk is substantial – even greater than the combined risk of high-level speeding
Speed cameras are proven to encourage safer driving behaviour and save lives. The presence of speed cameras is an ongoing reminder for motorists to slow down. Speeding is illegal and is a factor in one in three road deaths.
A recent study by the Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) found that the introduction of an automated speed enforcement program could reduce fatalities and serious injuries by up to 10% or three lives and 30 serious injuries each year.
Mobile speed cameras operate across Tasmania and enforcement can be conducted anytime and on all types of roads. The current fleet of mobile speed cameras deliver approximately 40 000 enforcement hours a year and can be deployed across hundreds of approved deployment sites.
Speed limits are set by the Commissioner for Transport and are determined in accordance with Australian Standards and Austroads guidelines.
Speed limits are set to reflect varying road environments, vehicle types and community needs such as safety and convenience.
In Tasmania, the default speed limits are 50km/hr for urban roads and 80km/hr for rural gravel road or 100km/hr for rural sealed roads.
The Department of State Growth monitors the road network and reviews speed limits when necessary.
Any changes to Tasmanian speed limits are listed here, along with the reasons for the decisions. The public is also able to request a review of a speed limit on a State road at any time by emailing info@stategrowth.tas.gov.au.
The mobile speed camera enforcement program is managed by the Department of State Growth in close partnership with the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management. The Department of State Growth is responsible for managing the mobile speed camera program including site selection and prioritisation.
The day-to-day operation and ongoing maintenance of speed cameras and housing units are outsourced to Sensys Gatso Australia. Employees of Sensys Gatso Australia will drive the cameras to sites approved by the Tasmanian Government.
At approved sites, the speed cameras will run automatically, without the need of an operator. The speed of every vehicle travelling past the speed camera is monitored, and then compared to the posted speed limit. If the vehicle is travelling above the speed limit, a digital image of the vehicle is taken, and is used to generate an infringement.
Before any infringement is sent to a potential offender, a Tasmania Police certified officer must review the information and picture and be satisfied with the proof of offence before issuing an infringement notice. Although Tasmania Police is involved at this stage of the process, the outsourcing of the operation of speed cameras frees up police resources, allowing them to undertake other important work.
All cameras have to comply with legislated requirements, which are designed to ensure that the cameras are accurate and reliable. Speed cameras also receive regular testing to ensure that their accuracy is maintained. Annually each speed camera is required to be assessed by an independent testing authority to obtain a certificate to prove that the camera is accurate and reliable.
For more information visit Accuracy and Reliability.
The accuracy of your speedometer depends on its make, model and condition.
Car manufacturers can set the accuracy of their speedometers within the acceptable range outlined in the Australian Design Rules.
Since June 2006, the Australian Design Rules require that new vehicles must have a speedometer that either shows the vehicle’s actual speed or faster (within 10 per cent plus 4 kilometre per hour).
Speedometers measure how quickly a vehicle’s wheels are rotating to determine the speed of your vehicle. This means that changes to the vehicle’s tyre diameter, wear, and pressure can also impact speedometer accuracy.
Under Tasmanian legislation, it is the motorist’s responsibility to ensure they do not exceed the speed-limit and that their vehicle’s speedometer is operating correctly.
For information on how to check the accuracy of your speedometer please visit the Transport Services website.
Research shows that mobile speed cameras are most effective when they are deployed randomly and without warning signs. This increases the expectation that speed cameras can be anywhere and at any time.
Increasing this perception is the most effective way of reducing speeding across the road network.
To support and inform the public of mobile speed cameras, general signage has been installed across the network to remind drivers that speed cameras operate in Tasmania and that driving over the speed limit can cause lasting damage.
The technology used in the mobile speed cameras is capable of monitoring six lanes of traffic at once. The cameras are also capable of monitoring vehicles both approaching and receding from the camera.
Tasmania’s mobile speed camera program will use both highly visible (overt) trailer-based speed cameras and more discrete (covert) vehicle-based speed cameras.
Overt cameras promote awareness of enforcement and significantly increase compliance with the speed limit at camera locations.
Covert cameras are used to deter speeding by motorists who slow down only when they see a speed camera, but actively speed when there is no perceived risk of being caught.
Mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras take a photo of each passing vehicle from an elevated viewpoint, looking into the vehicle, to see if the driver and passengers are wearing a seatbelt correctly and/or using a mobile phone while driving.
Intelligent software analyses the image to determine if a suspected mobile phone or seatbelt offence has occurred. If no offence is indicated, the software program will destroy the image and prevent anyone from viewing or using it. However, if an offence is detected, the image will be securely transferred to the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management to verify an offence has occurred before issuing an Infringement Notice.
The penalty for illegally using a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt correctly is $390 and 3 demerit points. More information regarding speed camera penalties can be found at https://speedcameras.tas.gov.au/penalties_and_infringements.
A mobile phone offence while driving includes:
More information regarding mobile phone and other device requirements can be found in the Tasmanian Road Rules Handbook at https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/358278/413398_-_Tasmanian_Road_Rules_2022.pdf.
Offences relating to the use of a seatbelt while driving include:
A seatbelt must be worn over your shoulder, running across your chest, and buckled low on your hip.
Information relating to a medical exemption to seatbelt requirements can be found at https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/licensing/exemptions/seatbelt_exemptions.
More information regarding seatbelt requirements can be found in the Tasmanian Road Rules Handbook at https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/358278/413398_-_Tasmanian_Road_Rules_2022.pdf.
When a passenger is detected not wearing a seatbelt by a mobile phone and seatbelt detection camera only the driver will be issued an Infringement Notice. This is because it is the driver who is responsible for ensuring all passengers are restrained correctly.
However, it is still an offence by the passenger to not wear a seatbelt correctly and if detected by a Police Officer, an Infringement Notice will be issued to both the passenger and the driver.
The mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras take images of each passing vehicle, which are then analysed by a software program to detect any potential offences. Images in which a suspected offence is detected are then securely transmitted to the Government’s database for adjudication by a highly trained operators in the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management.
Only images of suspected offences are viewed by a human, with the remainder being automatically destroyed.
Images that are to be adjudicated include additional privacy measures such as blacking out passengers, blurring the image outside that of the detected mobile phone, or blocking out the number plate of the vehicle until the adjudicator is satisfied an offence has occurred.
In addition, all data held by the Government and its suppliers are required to be securely stored. When appropriate data is to be destroyed consistent with the requirements outlined in the Achieves Act 1983 and the relevant departments data retention and disposal schedules.
The Department of State Growth and the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management are working closely to ensure that suitable adjudication processes are established to protect individuals’ privacy as much as practicable.
Photographic evidence relating to an offence may be viewed free of charge at any Tasmania Police Station between 9:00am and 4:30pm Monday to Friday.
Photographic evidence is also viewable via the Road User Portal at portal.speedcameras.tas.gov.au using the Picture-ID on bottom right of your Infringement Notice and the vehicles registration. Only Photographic evidence with a Picture-ID ending in ‘0’ are currently available via the Road User Portal.
A request to purchase an image may also be made in writing and addressed to the Officer-in-Charge, Traffic Liaison Services, Tasmania Police, Hobart.
You can pay an infringement notice several ways including:
BPAY: Using the details on your infringement notice
Internet: www.servicetasmania.tas.gov.au or https://www.justice.tas.gov.au/fines/paymentmethod
Phone: 1300 366 772
In Person: Service Tasmania Outlet
When making payments you should quote the 12-digit Notice Number printed on the infringement notice.
Please note that a failure to pay will result in enforcement action under the Monetary Penalties Enforcement Act 2005, which will increase the amount owed.
If you cannot pay an infringement notice within the time allowed, you may be eligible to pay your fine by instalments. The Application for Variation of Payment Conditions form is available on the Monetary Penalties Enforcement Service’s website and must be submitted within 28 days of receiving the infringement notice.
If you were not the driver at the time that the offence occurred, please complete the Statutory Declaration provided with your Infringement Notice within 21 days and return to Traffic Liaison Services, GPO Box 308, Hobart 7001, or any Service Tasmania outlet.
A new Infringement Notice will be issued to the person nominated in the Statutory Declaration. Failure to supply the required details may result in further action being taken.
For further information please contact the Traffic Liaison Office at traffic.liaison@police.tas.gov.au or on (03) 6173 2963.
A driver may be entitled to leniency for a speed camera infringement notice when two or more offences have been detected (by Photographic Detection device) in a short period of time.
If the second or subsequent offence occurred prior to the offender being served with the first infringement notice, the driver can make a written application by email to traffic.liaison@police.tas.gov.au requesting consideration for the demerit points to be withdrawn for the second offence. Strict conditions apply and both fines must still be paid.
If a vehicle captured by photographic detection device is registered to a company or organisation, a Notice of Demand is issued by Tasmania Police requesting details of the offending driver at the time the offence was detected.
You should first view the photograph to help identify the driver or review internal records. Failure to Comply with a Notice of Demand carries a significant financial penalty and suspension of the vehicle’s registration for 14 days. Additional Monetary Penalties Enforcement Service sanctions may apply.
If you wish to dispute an infringement notice you must do so within 28 days of receiving the infringement.
Before challenging an infringement notice in court, it is recommended that you contact the Traffic Liaison Services by telephone on (03) 6173 2963 or by email traffic.liaison@police.tas.gov.au to review and potentially withdraw the infringement notice.
If you still wish to challenge an infringement notice, you must lodge a Notice of Election for a Court Hearing, the form is available on the Monetary Penalties Enforcement Service’s website, by emailing the completed form to fines@justice.tas.gov.au, or mailing the completed form to GPO Box 955, HOBART, TAS 7001 or at any Service Tasmania outlet.
Please note that if you do nothing, after 28 days you will be taken to be convicted of the offence on the infringement notice.
In accordance with the Monetary Penalties Enforcement Act 2005, a driver/rider has 28 days to take action in relation to an infringement notice they have been issued; this may include lodgement of a Notice of Election for a Court Hearing with the Monetary Penalties Enforcement Service.
Failure to take action on an Infringement Notice within 28 days will result in the driver/rider being deemed convicted and further financial/regulatory sanctions may be imposed by the Monetary Penalties Enforcement Service.
The penalties, including associated demerit points, are printed on the infringement notice. If you are convicted of the offence, the demerit points on the Infringement Notice will be added to your licence. Please note that some offences such as excessive speeding offences, may result in your licence being disqualified for a period of time.
More information on demerit points and licence disqualification can be found on the Transport Services website.
