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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Thousands of Canberra Seatbelt Fines Thrown Into Doubt After Administrative Error

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • About 13,000 seatbelt fines issued in Canberra since November 2025 are under scrutiny after officials found that a legal instrument did not explicitly authorize cameras to detect seatbelt offences.
  • Access Canberra paused the fines, then resumed issuing them after updating the instrument, while about 6,500 already-settled cases remain closed under the authority's current position.
  • The Legislative Assembly will consider legislation to retrospectively validate the fines, and drivers with unpaid penalties can pay, seek withdrawal or dispute them.

Around 13,000 Canberra seatbelt fines have been thrown into doubt after officials discovered that a legal document authorizing traffic cameras had never been updated to explicitly mention seatbelt offences.

It's just that the disallowable instrument didn't include the word "seatbelt".

· Josh RynehartThe head of Access Canberra explained the legal wording problem that cast doubt on the fines.

Access Canberra found that its fixed and mobile cameras were certified to detect mobile-phone use, but the disallowable instrument did not include the word "seatbelt". The authority said it identified the problem internally two weeks ago, although it should have been addressed before the fines began in November 2025.

Access Canberra paused the issuing of seatbelt infringements as soon as it discovered the issue. Josh Rynehart, the agency's head, said the instrument has now been corrected and the fines are being issued again. He described the matter as a potential issue concerning whether camera evidence would be admissible in court, rather than whether the evidence accurately showed drivers without seatbelts.

We consider once a person has paid their infringement, that that matter is settled and the demerits then do apply to their license.

· Josh RynehartHe described the authority's position on fines that drivers had already paid.

About 6,500 people have already paid their fines or otherwise resolved their liability. Access Canberra considers those cases settled, meaning the demerit points apply to the drivers' licences. Rynehart said drivers who have not paid can choose to pay, seek withdrawal or dispute their fines. He also said 20 seatbelt offences had been challenged in court and all had been upheld.

To be clear, the disallowable instrument is now explicitly authorising the cameras, and we will be issuing the infringements moving forward.

· Josh RynehartHe said the authorization had been corrected and seatbelt fines would resume.

The ACT Legislative Assembly will consider legislation to retrospectively fix the authorization issue and ensure the fines remain valid. Deputy Chief Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith called the problem an "unfortunate administrative error" while stressing that seatbelts remain a critical safety measure. She said every infringement notice included camera footage and had also been checked by a human being.

Every single infringement notice that has been issued, has not only had the camera footage but has also been checked by a human being.

· Rachel Stephen-SmithThe deputy chief minister defended the evidentiary basis of the infringement notices.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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