A string of arson attacks on Tasmania’s fleet of mobile speed cameras is understood to have prompted significant changes to the cameras’ deployment across the state.
The first camera was set alight on New Norfolk’s Boyer Road in early April, causing extensive damage.
Another camera was destroyed by fire in Ranelagh near Huonville late at night on April 24.
The Department of State Growth say their department and their supplier, Sensys Gatso, are “reviewing alternative camera deployment practices to minimise potential vandalism risk”.
They say this will be done while ensuring speed camera enforcement continues to reduce the likelihood of injuries and road fatalities.
“Tasmania Police is continuing investigations into recent suspected arson incidents involved mobile speed camera trailers,” a State Growth spokesperson said.
It’s understood the cameras, which detect drivers who are speeding, using their phone or not wearing a seatbelt, are no longer regularly being left operating at night and are now being deployed less in rural areas.
Sensys Gatso, the company which operates the cameras under an $9.3 million 3-year state government contract, has reportedly removed signage from its Hobart warehouse and deleted its address from its website in an attempt to reduce its risk.
In April, it was reported that nearly $10 million in fines had been handed out to drivers across Tasmania since the introduction of the cameras in 2022.
A total of around 65,000 speeding fines raked in $4.15 million from September 2022 to August 2023, with a further $4.28 million generated to March 2023.
Alongside speeding violations, the cameras caught 1,300 instances of mobile phone-related driving offences with fines totalling $500,000 and 2,400 seatbelt offences worth $960,000 in fines.
Anyone with information on the incidents is encouraged to contact police on 131444 or report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestopperstas.com.au.
