A driver has claimed she received a $387 fine in the mail for using her phone behind the wheel – but the roadside camera actually snapped her holding her glasses case.
Ms Lee, who asked for her first name not to be used, said the picture is from January 9 this year when she was driving back to Sydney on the Hume Highway after a trip to Melbourne.
‘It was in the evening so I removed my sunglasses, that’s what I was doing. It looks like my sunglasses cover,’ Ms Lee told Yahoo News.
She protested the fine – and five demerits points – with NSW authorities and explained she had no need to use her phone while driving.
‘I’ve got Android Auto, there’s no need to touch my phone, I can give voice commands,’ she said.
The driver said she was fined for holding her phone but it was really her glasses case (pictured)
‘It was in the evening so I removed my sunglasses, that’s what I was doing. It looks like my sunglasses cover (pictured),’ Ms Lee said
She also sent Revenue NSW a picture of the glasses case in question resting on her lap in the driver’s seat similar to how it was in the photo to show how the ‘mistake’ could have occurred.
But Revenue NSW sent her a reply saying the fine would remain in effect.
‘We have reviewed the images and are satisfied the fine was issued correctly… a driver in a vehicle that is not parked cannot hold a phone in their hand or against their body,’ a letter sent to Ms Lee stated.
Ms Lee, who is between jobs, said the fine was was a significant hit to her hip pocket.
‘Why bother having a review process if they’re not going to do anything about it? It’s a big sum of money.’
Overhead mobile phone detection cameras are widely used in Australia.
The mobile phone cameras found in NSW have led to plenty of fines, including this one seen in north Sydney
Queensland and Victoria have recently upgraded the cameras’ capabilities to also detect those not wearing seatbelts.
NSW will follow suit from July 1.
The ACT is intending to widen the scope of the equipment even further in the next few years to enable them to read number plates and automatically check if cars are registered and insured.
