What Do Cell Phone Cameras Look Like? Here’s How to Spot Them

A recent mobile phone surveillance campaign in South Australia caught nearly 31,000 drivers using, touching or looking at their mobile phones while driving in just one month.

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In the first month of the cameras’ operation in South Africa – which coincided with a grace period during which only warning letters were issued – no fewer than 836 motorists were stopped four or more times.

Almost all states and territories in Australia, except the Northern Territory and Western Australia, now use mobile phone cameras to some extent, with stiff penalties for those caught using their phones while driving.

New South Wales was the first in Australia to implement the cameras in late 2019, detecting more than 3,000 drivers across the state in their first week of operation.

The cameras are not without controversy, with some drivers complaining that they are an invasion of privacy because of the detailed images they capture.

At the same time, authorities have warned they could clog up the courts with drivers challenging the cameras’ potentially inaccurate results, while others have accused them of being little more than a revenue-raising exercise.

Here’s what cell phone cameras look like, what behaviors they detect and where they are in Australia.

What do cell phone cameras look like?

There are two types of mobile phone detection cameras in operation in Australia: fixed and mobile. They will vary in appearance depending on your location, but generally they will meet certain criteria.

Fixed speed cameras are usually installed on existing infrastructure, such as the speed camera network or digital road signs, and operate 24/7. Fixed speed cameras are usually black boxes that look like red light cameras or speed cameras, making them harder to spot.

Meanwhile, portable cameras travel along regional and urban roads and are generally easier to identify because they are large structures with long arms that are sometimes bright yellow in color.

Typically, they are also equipped with CCTV security and tracking systems and are sometimes powered by large solar panels placed at the base of the structure.

What do cell phone cameras detect?

Cell phone detection cameras typically capture multiple images of the vehicle’s front seats as well as the car’s license plates.

Artificial intelligence software then examines these images to detect possible illegal cell phone use (as well as failure to wear a seat belt correctly).

Illegal use of a mobile phone while driving includes: using a mobile phone, holding a mobile phone, having a phone on your body or looking at the screen of a mobile phone – even if it is held by another occupant of the vehicle.

Images that do not appear to show illegal behavior are removed, while images identified as showing potentially illegal behavior will be flagged for further review by authorities.

The images below are provided by the ACT Government and provide examples of illegal phone use that would be detected by mobile phone detection cameras:

Where are the cell phone cameras in NSW?

“There are a total of 47 fixed and transportable mobile phone and seat belt detection cameras operating in NSW to conduct more than 135 million vehicle checks each year,” a Transport for NSW spokesperson said. To drive.

“The fixed cameras are positioned on high volume traffic roads and use selection criteria outlined in the NSW Automated Enforcement Strategy for Road Safety, which includes risk levels, geographical distribution of enforcement and locations that are difficult for NSW Police to enforce.

“Transportable cameras are installed across the entire road network to increase the unpredictability of checks. This increases the deterrent effect, as illegal non-compliance with mobile phones and seat belts occurs across the entire road network. Mobile phone and seat belt detection cameras began monitoring seat belt violations on 1 July 2024.”

The NSW Transport Authority does not publish the locations of its mobile phone detection cameras.

In New South Wales, the fine for illegal mobile phone use is $410, or $544 if the use is detected in a school zone. There is also a penalty of five demerit points.

Where are the cell phone cameras in Victoria?

Victoria currently has eight mobile phone cameras – all mobile and located on portable trailers – that can be deployed to more than 200 locations in rural and metropolitan areas.

The locations of these cameras are published monthly and can be viewed here.

In Victoria, you risk a $593 fine and four demerit points. if you are caught using a cell phone while driving.

Where are the cell phone cameras in Queensland?

“Fixed and portable mobile phone and seat belt cameras are being installed across Queensland,” a Queensland Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said. To drive.

“Their location is based on where injuries or deaths have occurred in road accidents where cell phone use or failure to wear a seat belt were contributing factors.”

The Queensland Transport Authority does not publish the locations of its mobile phone detection cameras.

In Queensland, you can be fined $1,209 and given four demerit points if you are caught using a mobile phone while driving.

Where are the cell phone cameras in South Australia?

“Fixed mobile phone detection cameras are in operation at five sites across Adelaide,” a spokesperson for the South Australian Department of Infrastructure and Transport said. To drive.

“A total of 13 cameras monitor 13 traffic lanes. The second stage, in the second half of 2025, will include two additional sites and four cameras, with two traffic lanes to be monitored at each site. This means a total of seven sites and 17 monitored lanes.”

The cameras are currently operating with a three-month grace and training period that runs from June 19, 2024 to September 18, 2024.

A list of cell phone detection camera locations in South Africa can be found here.

From 18 September 2024, illegal mobile phone use while driving in South Australia will result in a $556 fine (plus a $102 adult crime victim levy) and three demerit points.

Where are the cell phone cameras in the Australian Capital Territory?

“There are five mobile phone cameras installed in the ACT – two are fixed and three are mobile,” an ACT Police spokesperson said. To drive.

Of the two fixed cameras, one is located on Hindmarsh Drive and the other on Gungahlin Drive.

In the ACT, using your phone or similar device to send messages, use social media or access apps or the internet carries a $632 fine and four demerit points.

Using or holding your device for any other reason (unless it is secured in a holder) will result in a $514 fine and three demerit points.

Where are the cell phone cameras in Western Australia?

“There are currently no mobile phone cameras in full operation in Western Australia,” a spokesperson for the Western Australian Road Safety Commission said. To drive.

“We are currently in the process of issuing a tender for the procurement of a number of mobile security cameras. These cameras will be able to detect illegal use of mobile phones, people not wearing their seat belts or not wearing them correctly, as well as speeding.”

In Western Australia, using your phone to make, receive or end a voice call (without being in a cradle) will result in a $500 fine and three demerit points.

Meanwhile, WA drivers caught using their phone to create, send or view a text, email, social media, photo, video or similar content face a $1000 fine and five demerit points.

Where are the cell phone cameras in Tasmania?

“Of Tasmania’s fleet of 16 mobile traffic detection cameras, four have mobile phone usage detection capability,” a spokesperson for the Tasmanian Department of State Growth said. To drive.

This means Tasmania currently has four portable mobile phone detection cameras.

In Tasmania, illegal use of a phone while driving carries a $404 fine and three demerit points.

The locations of Tasmania’s portable cell phone detection cameras are not listed.

Where are the cell phone cameras in the Northern Territory?

“Northern Territory Police are currently investigating the possibility of using mobile cameras in the territory,” a Northern Territory Police spokesperson said. To drive.

Although mobile phone detection cameras are not in operation in the Northern Territory, drivers still face a $500 fine and three demerit points for illegally using a mobile phone while driving.

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