South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced reforms that would require council inspectors to issue physical infringement notices at the time of an alleged parking offence, effectively ending ticketless fines generated by AI-assisted camera cars.
Under the proposed changes, councils would still be able to use camera car technology to enforce parking rules, but inspectors would need to notify drivers at the scene rather than relying on infringement notices arriving in the mail days or weeks later.
The technology has been operating in Adelaide since 2021 and is used by councils in Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, the Gold Coast and Geelong.
The premier said the current system was unfair because motorists were often unaware they had allegedly committed an offence until long after it happened. “When fines arrive in the mail weeks after being issued through AI-assisted technology, motorists lose the chance to understand the offence and gather evidence to challenge it,” he said.
Adelaide council’s most recent review found Park Safe vehicles issued more than 27,000 fines in the first three quarters of the 2025-26 financial year. During the same period, drivers lodged 2353 requests for review, with 702 fines ultimately withdrawn.
Malinauskas said the number of challenged fines later being withdrawn suggested problems with the current system. “The rate of challenged fines being withdrawn shows something isn’t right with the current system,” he said. “Councils can still enforce parking rules, but they must do so in a way that is transparent, accountable and fair.”
The announcement follows growing scrutiny of AI-assisted parking enforcement in South Australia. 7NEWS reported earlier this year on a case involving a motorist fined for allegedly parking in a bicycle lane who claimed he was simply attempting to parallel park. The infringement was later withdrawn, fuelling concerns about the accuracy and fairness of automated enforcement systems. The case prompted questions about whether AI-assisted camera vehicles are capable of properly assessing context before fines are issued, particularly where a vehicle may only be stopped temporarily or undertaking a parking manoeuvre.
The reforms are expected to be introduced as the government seeks to tighten oversight of how councils use AI-assisted parking enforcement across the state.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Motorists in South Australia would no longer face surprise fines arriving weeks after an alleged offence, giving them a fair chance to understand and challenge the penalty.
- The shift could influence other councils using similar AI camera car technology in cities including Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Geelong.
- The high rate of withdrawn fines (702 out of 2353 reviews) suggests the current automated system may be issuing a significant number of questionable penalties.
Background
South Australia's AI-assisted parking enforcement, known as Park Safe vehicles, has been in use since 2021. The system allows council camera cars to capture alleged parking offences and issue fines by mail, without an inspector present at the time. The government's proposed overhaul responds to concerns about procedural fairness and the accuracy of automated enforcement.
Key Perspectives
Premier Peter Malinauskas: said the current system was unfair because motorists lose the chance to understand the offence and gather evidence to challenge it when fines arrive weeks later. He said the high rate of withdrawn fines shows something is wrong, and councils can still enforce rules in a way that is “transparent, accountable and fair.”
What to Watch
- The tabling of the reform bill in South Australia's parliament and whether it passes with bipartisan support.
- How councils already using the technology, especially Adelaide, respond to the proposed on-the-spot notification requirement.
- Whether other states or councils using AI camera cars reconsider their enforcement practices.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedSouth Australia is moving to end ticketless AI-generated parking fines.7NEWS: “South Australian motorists could soon be spared surprise parking fines arriving weeks after an alleged offence, with the state government moving to overhaul the use of AI-assisted council camera cars.”
- SupportedThe proposed reforms would require on-the-spot notices, ending reliance on fines arriving by mail days or weeks later.7NEWS: “Under the proposed changes, councils would still be able to enforce parking rules using the technology, but inspectors would be required to notify drivers at the scene rather than relying on infringement notices arriving in the mail days or weeks later.”
- SupportedPremier Peter Malinauskas announced reforms requiring council inspectors to issue physical infringement notices at the time of an offence.7NEWS: “Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced reforms that would require council inspectors to issue a physical infringement notice at the time of an offence, effectively ending ticketless parking fines generated through camera car technology.”
- SupportedMalinauskas said: “When fines arrive in the mail weeks after being issued through AI-assisted technology, motorists lose the chance to understand the offence and gather evidence to challenge it,”7NEWS: ““When fines arrive in the mail weeks after being issued through AI-assisted technology, motorists lose the chance to understand the offence and gather evidence to challenge it,” he said.”
- SupportedThe technology has operated in Adelaide since 2021 and is used by councils in Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, the Gold Coast and Geelong.7NEWS: “The technology has been operating in Adelaide since 2021 and is also used by councils in Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, the Gold Coast and Geelong.”
- SupportedPark Safe vehicles issued more than 27,000 fines in the first three quarters of the 2025-26 financial year, according to Adelaide council’s most recent review.7NEWS: “The Adelaide council’s most recent review found Park Safe vehicles issued more than 27,000 fines in the first three quarters of the 2025-26 financial year.”
- SupportedDrivers lodged 2,353 requests for review during the same period.7NEWS: “During the same period, drivers lodged 2353 requests for review, with 702 fines ultimately withdrawn.”
- SupportedA total of 702 fines were ultimately withdrawn during that period.7NEWS: “During the same period, drivers lodged 2353 requests for review, with 702 fines ultimately withdrawn.”
- SupportedMalinauskas said the number of challenged fines later withdrawn suggested problems with the current system.7NEWS: “Malinauskas said the number of challenged fines later being withdrawn suggested problems with the current system.”
- SupportedMalinauskas said: “The rate of challenged fines being withdrawn shows something isn’t right with the current system,”7NEWS: ““The rate of challenged fines being withdrawn shows something isn’t right with the current system,” he said.”
- SupportedMalinauskas said: “Councils can still enforce parking rules, but they must do so in a way that is transparent, accountable and fair.”7NEWS: ““Councils can still enforce parking rules, but they must do so in a way that is transparent, accountable and fair.””
- Supported7NEWS reported earlier that year on a motorist fined for allegedly parking in a bicycle lane who said he was trying to parallel park; the infringement was later withdrawn.7NEWS: “Earlier this year, 7NEWS reported on the case of a motorist who was fined for allegedly parking in a bicycle lane despite claiming he was simply attempting to parallel park. The infringement was later withdrawn”