Why Hundreds of AI‑Generated Seatbelt Fines Are Being Dropped in Western Australia

Western Australian police have stopped prosecuting a large number of seatbelt infringement notices that were created by AI‑assisted cameras, leaving many drivers free of the $550 fine and demerit points.

The Road Safety Commission rolled out the AI‑assisted seatbelt cameras in October 2025. Since then the Department of Transport has issued a total of 81,412 seatbelt‑related infringements.

About 7 % of those notices – roughly 5,700 cases – have already been overturned after drivers asked for a review, and more than $1 million worth of AI‑generated fines have been withdrawn in the six months since the cameras began operating.

Police Commissioner Col Blanch explained that prosecutors are dropping the cases because there is "no reasonable prospect" of securing a conviction and because many drivers have presented "reasonable defences". In practice, prosecutors often cannot prove that a driver knew a passenger was not wearing a seatbelt correctly.

The AI cameras have also cut the number of detected seatbelt or mobile‑phone violations by 76 % between September 2025 and August 2026, showing a clear safety benefit even as some fines are being dismissed.

These developments highlight how new technology, legal standards and driver rights intersect: the cameras improve road safety, but the law requires solid evidence before a fine can be enforced.

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