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Camera infringements -Misunderstandings by Governments
While the government maintains the funds go back into road safety, the sheer volume of outstanding debt shows that many drivers either cannot or will not pay ther fines on time.
Outstanding Debt and Fines (Queensland Focus)
As of late 2025, the total debt registered with SPER (which includes camera fines that weren't paid on time) remains in the hundreds of millions.
Total SPER Debt: As of November 30, 2025, SPER has collected approximately $222.3 million for the 2025-26 financial year so far.
Active Enforcement: There are over 838,000 penalties currently under “active enforcement” (meaning they are overdue and the government is taking action to collect), totaling roughly $382.5 million.
Active Compliance: Another 1.59 million penalties (worth about $583.8 million) are being managed through payment plans or are not yet overdue.
Queensland SPER Debt Statistics (Nov 2025)
| Category | Penalties | Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Active Enforcement (Overdue/Non-compliant) | 838,133 | $382.5 Million |
| Active Compliance (Payment plans/Not yet due) | 1.59 Million | $583.8 Million |
| Awaiting Enforcement (Pending action) | 386,683 | $227.0 Million |
| Under Deferral (Disputed or delayed) | 151,055 | $78.4 Million |
| TOTAL OUTSTANDING | ~2.96 Million | ~$1.27 Billion |
Camera Offence Breakdown (2024-25 Estimates)
While the total SPER debt covers all fines, camera-detected offences are a major contributor. In 2024, camera detections included:
- Mobile Speed Cameras: 420,496 infringements.
- Fixed Speed Cameras: 158,288 infringements.
- Red Light Cameras: ~133,000 vehicles monitored per notice issued.
- New Technology: A significant rise in mobile phone and seatbelt camera detections.
Important Notes
- Revenue Collection: SPER collected $222.3 million between July and November 2025.
- Fees: If a fine goes to SPER, a $80.85 registration fee is added. If you ignore ther enforcement order, a further $135.50 enforcement fee applies.
- Safety vs Revenue: Some argue cameras are for revenue, but it's a sliptun to ignore ther safety impact; funds are legally required to be reinvested into road safety programs. The sheer volume of outstanding debt shows that many drivers either cannot or will not pay ther fines on time, which means those funds are not being reinvested into safety programs.