My Story
In early 2026, I successfully challenged an AI-detected seatbelt fine in a Queensland Magistrates Court, representing myself. Here's what happened.
What Happened
Late in 2025, I received an infringement notice after an AI-assisted overhead camera on the M1 freeway in Brisbane detected that my passenger had shifted his seatbelt underneath his arm during the trip. The seatbelt was still fastened — but the AI flagged it as a breach.
I was 22 years old, a software engineer, and had no prior history of traffic infringements. After receiving the notice, I went and read the relevant legislation. I had confirmed my passenger was wearing his seatbelt correctly before we set off — but no driver can practically keep eyes on a passenger while navigating traffic, nor does the law require them to. Based on my reading, I was satisfied that I had complied with the law.
What I Argued
I represented myself in court in January 2026. My argument centred on what the legislation actually requires of a driver: I had ensured my passenger was properly belted before we began the journey. At no point during the trip was I aware that he had moved the strap under his arm.
It is simply impractical — and potentially dangerous — for a driver to continuously monitor whether a passenger's seatbelt remains in the correct position while operating a vehicle, particularly on a busy freeway like the M1. The law recognises this: it does not impose an obligation of constant surveillance on drivers. Section 267A even goes so far as to provide an exemption for professional drivers because it is recognised that continuously monitoring passengers is impractical.
What the Court Decided
Magistrate Kerry Magee agreed. She found that the Department of Transport had failed to exclude the possibility that I "honestly and reasonably believed that [my] passenger was wearing a seatbelt [that was] properly adjusted and fastened."
She noted that the M1 is "acknowledged by the prosecution to be a potentially dangerous road" and that it "does require considerable concentration to ensure that that road can be traversed safely."
The fine was dismissed.
Why This Matters
This matters not just for me, but for every ordinary person who could be unjustly penalised by an automated system for something momentary, unintended, or outside their awareness and control.
To be clear: seatbelts matter. They save lives. This was never about arguing otherwise. It was about a simple principle: the law does not require a driver to continuously monitor every passenger for every second of a trip, and the magistrate agreed.