South Australia’s mobile phone detection cameras have now been in operation for one month, and while motorists appear to be changing their behaviours for the better, there are still a multitude at risk of losing their licence. The activation of the cameras in late September followed a three-month grace period, during which infringement notices were issued but without fines attached. When the three-month period ended, South Australia Police (SAPOL) began issuing a fine of $658 fine – which includes a $102 Victims of Crime levy – and three demerit points to drivers detected using their phones while driving.
From September 19 to October 18, 2024, SAPOL reports 10,319 expiation notices were issued, representing 0.23 per cent of the 4,507,577 vehicles scanned – down from 0.42 per cent across the final 30 days of the grace period.
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While a total of 10,526 potential incidents were detected, 10,319 of these – or 98.03 per cent – were found to be worth of an expiation notice after being reviewed by a trained SAPOL adjudicator. SAPOL officer Superintendent Darren Fielke suggesting the data represents a change in behaviour as a result of the cameras.
“After much education and a three-month grace period, declining averages of offences show most habitual mobile phone offenders have finally put their phones down or have been taken off the road afte.
