Higher fines drive $200 million increase in Queensland camera revenue

The Queensland Government says it expects its traffic cameras will bring in almost $500 million in revenue this financial year, up by almost $200 million in a single year.

The total sum expected from the Camera Detected Offence Program (CDOP) is $465.8 million, up 70 per cent on the $274.5 million collected in 2021-22.

“Research tells us that CDOP was associated with a reduction of 897 casualty crashes in 2020 and 1191 casualty crashes in 2021,” said Transport Minister Mark Bailey in remarks reported by the ABC.

“This translates to annual savings to the community of around $503 million and $678 million respectively by preventing injuries and fatalities.

“Any revenue collected from the CDOP is reinvested back into road safety initiatives by law.”

Revenue has been given a shot in the arm from an increase in the value of fines for speeding and not wearing a seatbelt, while the government has also been deploying cameras that can detect mobile phone usage.

It’s also piloting new school zone and roadworks speed cameras.

Last June, the Government confirmed it had recorded over 100,000 infringements for the use of mobile phones and the lack of seatbelt use over a six-month period. 71,596 of these were mobile phone infringements.

Tougher penalties came into effect from July 1 last year.

Instead of a $413 fine and three demerit points as before, drivers not wearing a seat belt face a $1078 fine and four demerit points.

That essentially aligns it with the $1033 penalty for using a mobile phone while driving in Queensland.

You’ll still get three demerit points for running a red, but the fine has been increased from $413 to $575.

The Government also increased penalties for speeding last year.

Exceeding the speed limit by between 1-10km/h will get you a $287 fine. Previously, the bracket was up to 12km/h and the fine only $183.

It’s still one demerit point on your record as before.

Likewise, exceeding the limit by 11-20km/h (instead of 13-20km/h) will get you a fine of $431 and three demerit points, up from $275 and three demerit points.

The other brackets were unchanged, as were the corresponding demerit point amounts, but the penalties were increased as follows:

• 21-30km/h: increased from $459 to $646 (four demerit points)
• 31-40km/h: increased from $643 to $1078 (six demerit points)
• Over 40km/h: increased from $1286 to $1653 (eight demerit points, six-month licence suspension)

The changes in penalties are part of the new Queensland Road Safety Strategy 2022-31, with a vision to having zero road deaths and serious injuries by 2050.

Before then, it wants to reduce fatalities by 50 per cent by 2031 and serious injuries on the road by 30 per cent by 2031.

The road death toll increased to 299 in 2022, the worst in a decade.

MORE: Queensland wants you to ‘dob in a hoon’ using its new online portalMORE: Queensland’s permanent phone detection cameras are onlineMORE: Queensland’s mobile phone rule changes explained MORE: Queensland introducing new school zone, roadworks speed camerasMORE: Queensland cameras record over 100,000 mobile phone and seatbelt offencesMORE: Queensland increases fines for driving offences