Research has shown that illegally using a mobile phone while driving increases your risk of being involved in a crash, while incorrectly wearing a seatbelt increases your risk of being killed in a crash by up to 50 per cent.
This is why the Tasmanian Government is implementing mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras (detection cameras) throughout 2023.
On-road testing of detection cameras commenced in Tasmania on 21 April 2023. During this period, infringement notices will not be issued.
Detection cameras will begin enforcing illegal mobile phone use and seatbelt non-compliance in approximately the middle of 2023, at which point infringement notices will be issued.
Detection cameras can operate anywhere in Tasmania and at all times of the day and night.
The message is simple, always Click on your seatbelt, Store your phone, and you’re good to Go.
Click. Store. Go.
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.
