WA's AI Cameras Issue $1M in Fines, Drivers Protest

0:00It's April 21st, Sydney News. Today starts now, AI-powered and ready. Western Australia just pulled back fines worth more than $1 million, $100,000 from those new AI road safety cameras. They rode out six months ago to catch drivers on phones or skipping seatbelts. Officials hid drivers with over 53,000 seatbelt tickets alone. The road safety minister, Reese Whitby, calls it a solid setup. Less than 4% of seatbelt fines got tossed, and he says most folks know they messed up. They even waved some penalties for drivers caught off guard by the tech early on. Drivers are fired up though. A Perth grandfather leading the pushback says the system slaps unfair fines, especially when passengers mess up belts instead of drivers. Opposition leader Basil Zimpelis agrees plenty got pained wrong and blames the rush roll out after an eight-month test without penalties. Models are working too, with 60% success if you got a real case. The cameras peer right into car cabins, spotting stuff old tech missed, and that's scaled

1:04up detections big time. Minister Whitby plans more cameras but wants a careful roll out to keep changing driver habits and saving lives on the roads.