NSW government inquiry to examine increase in mobile speeding fines

The increase, mirrored across the state, will be the subject of a new parliamentary inquiry into what the opposition has labelled 'fine-mania'.

Since the decision to remove warning signs and car decals was announced in November, mobile cameras in Albury have generated $74,847 from 435 fines.

In entire the 2019-20 financial year, only $22,644 was collected from 116 fines in Albury.

The trend continues in the Southern Riverina, 57 fines have been issued totalling $15,672 by a mobile camera on Railway Parade, Henty, since November.

Last financial year, the camera generated just 16 fines worth $5,368.

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Albury councillor Henk Van de Ven said hidden cameras created a disconnect between actions consequences.

He said getting a fine in the mail after the face does not prompt people to consider their behaviour in the same way being pulled over by police or seeing a sign does.

"It's a huge increase," he said.

"Obviously people are breaking the law but in my view getting fine in mail two to three weeks after offence - all it is is annoying.

"It doesn't do anything to improve safety, the act is already done."

Cr Van de Ven queried whether the money being generated was being used to address underlying issues or educate drivers in areas where speeding was repeatedly identified.

"What do they do with the money?," he said. "Does it go to general revenue to be spent on other stuff or is it spent making places safe?"

As well as removing signs, the government's mobile speed camera program increased enforcement hours.

Initially Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the use of signs would be phased in over 12 months, but by December the vast majority of warning signs were gone.

Across the state the government has raised almost $24 million since introducing the new initiatives in November, the Labor's roads spokesman John Graham said.

He welcomes the Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety's inquiry into mobile speed camera enforcement, saying it was "essential to tackle the government's fine-mania agenda".

Committee chair Lou Amato said the inquiry will look at how enforcement protects road users.

"We want to know what the community thinks about these changes in terms of how they promote and improve road safety," he said.

"We also want to consider how the revenue from speeding fines is spent as part of the ongoing funding of safety initiatives."

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