Queensland runs AI mobile phone detection cameras across South East Queensland, and this guide covers where they are, how they work, the fines involved, and how to stay on the right side of the rules.
Where Are the Mobile Phone Detection Cameras in QLD?
They are spread across South East Queensland, and there is no single official list of every location. Transport and Main Roads runs the program and deliberately keeps the exact placements loose, so drivers cannot just memorise a few spots and put the phone down only there. The point is that you should be off your phone everywhere, not only where a camera happens to be.
Two types are in use. Fixed cameras sit permanently on gantries or poles over specific roads. Transportable cameras are mounted in trailers that get towed to different sites and moved on a regular basis, often to roads with a history of crashes linked to phone use or seatbelts. Because the transportable units keep moving, any map or list of "known" locations you find is a guide at best, not the full picture.
Reported fixed sites have turned up on major arterials and motorways around Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Treat those as indicative. The safest assumption is that any road in South East Queensland could have one watching. If you want certainty on where cameras are and how the program works, check the QLD Government road safety pages linked below rather than relying on a third party list.
Which Fixed Camera Sites Are Known in Brisbane and the Gold Coast?
A handful of fixed camera sites have been publicly reported around Brisbane and the Gold Coast. This is not an official or complete list, and TMR does not confirm every location, but these are the ones that tend to come up.
| Road | Suburb | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Sandgate Road | Virginia | Brisbane northside |
| Mains Road | Macgregor | Brisbane southside |
| Western Freeway | Mount Coot-Tha | Brisbane |
| Pacific Motorway | Coomera | Gold Coast |
Fixed cameras like these tend to sit on busy arterials and motorways where the government has crash data showing injuries or fatalities linked to phone use or seatbelts. The transportable trailer units then fill the gaps, so a road with no fixed camera today can still have one parked on it next week. Do not read the absence of a known site as a green light anywhere.
How Do Mobile Phone Detection Cameras Work?
Each camera photographs every vehicle that passes and uses artificial intelligence to scan the images for signs of illegal phone use or a seatbelt offence. The AI does not issue the fine on its own. Images it flags are passed to an authorised officer, who reviews them and confirms whether an offence actually happened before anything is sent out.
The cameras work day and night and in most weather, and they capture the driver and front passenger area. So a shot can show a phone in your hand, a phone sitting on your lap, or a seatbelt worn incorrectly. Because a person checks each flagged image, everyday things that look like a phone from a distance are meant to be filtered out at the review stage.
Do You Have to Be Holding Your Phone to Get Fined?
No. In Queensland your phone does not have to be in your hand for the offence to apply. Having it resting on your lap, your leg, or any part of your body while you are driving is illegal, even if you are stopped in traffic. If the phone is not secured in a mount or being used properly hands-free, you are exposed.
To stay on the right side of the rule, the phone needs to be in a fixed cradle or operated fully hands-free, and the rules for a fully licensed driver differ from those for a learner or P-plater. The QLD Government sets out exactly what counts as legal phone use behind the wheel, so check the current road rules there if you are unsure about your licence type. Our guide to P plate rules in QLD covers the tighter restrictions younger drivers face.
What Is the Fine for Using Your Phone While Driving in QLD?
Getting caught by one of these cameras is not a minor slap. The penalty is a large fine plus demerit points, and the same figures apply to a seatbelt offence detected by the camera. Fines in Queensland are reviewed and indexed regularly, so treat the amounts below as a guide and confirm the current figure on the QLD Government website.
| Offence | Fine | Demerit points |
|---|---|---|
| Illegal mobile phone use while driving | $1,295 | 4 points |
| Seatbelt worn incorrectly (or not worn) | $1,295 | 4 points |
| Second phone offence within 12 months | $1,295 | 8 points(double) |
Four points from one photo is a big chunk of a licence, and a repeat offence inside a year doubles the points. Stack a couple of these and a suspension is a real possibility. That is before you even get to what a fresh set of demerits can do to your insurance. It is not the only pricey slip QLD drivers can make either, as our rundown of the newer QLD driving fines shows.
How Do Double Demerit Points Work in Queensland?
Queensland does double demerits differently to some other states. Here, double points for phone and seatbelt offences apply all year round, not only over holiday long weekends. If you commit a second eligible offence within 12 months of the first, the points on that second offence are doubled.
The points sit on your record and add up. Once you pass your demerit threshold, TMR can suspend your licence or put you on a good driving behaviour period. It is also worth knowing that offences committed elsewhere in Australia can be recorded against a Queensland licence, so a phone fine picked up interstate can still count toward your points here. For the exact thresholds and how long points stay active, check the QLD Government demerit points page.
How Can You Avoid a Mobile Phone Camera Fine?
The only reliable way to avoid a fine is to make the phone impossible to touch while you drive. A few habits do most of the work.
- Turn on "Do Not Disturb While Driving" so calls and messages are held until you stop.
- Set your GPS destination and your music or podcast before you pull out, not at the lights.
- Fit a proper phone mount so any legal hands-free use keeps the phone off your body.
- Put the phone somewhere you cannot reach it, like the glovebox, a bag, or the boot, if you know you will be tempted.
- Tell passengers you need to focus, and hand them the phone for navigation or messages.
- If something genuinely needs a reply, pull over somewhere safe and legal first.
None of it is complicated. The cameras are not going anywhere, and in South East Queensland it is safest to drive as though every road has one. If you want the official line, TMR and StreetSmarts publish a factsheet on mobile phone distractions, linked in the resources below.
Where Does Sell Any Car Fast Buy Cars in SE QLD?
We buy cars right across South East Queensland. Whether you are in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast, up the Sunshine Coast, out at Toowoomba, or closer in at North Lakes, we come to you with free pickup and same-day bank transfer. We are rated 5 out of 5 across 100+ verified Google reviews, and if you are a Brisbane seller comparing offers, our used car buyers Brisbane page lays out how we stack up.
Selling to a licensed dealer keeps things simple. There is no roadworthy certificate to organise, we sort the registration transfer, and you do not need to chase the usual private sale paperwork. Want to know the process end to end first? Read how to sell a car in Queensland, see what it is worth with our free car valuation tools, or run a QLD VIN check. If the car has ever been written off, our WOVR guide explains where you stand.
If a fine or a stack of demerits has you weighing up whether the car is worth keeping, we buy vehicles across SE QLD with free pickup and same-day bank transfer. No fuss, no haggling.
Sell your car the easy wayFrequently Asked Questions
Are the cameras operating 24 hours a day?
Yes. The cameras are designed to run around the clock in all light and most weather conditions. There is no "safe" time of day, and a transportable unit parked on a road can be capturing at any hour.
Can I use my phone while stopped at traffic lights?
No. In Queensland you are still considered to be driving while you are stopped in traffic or at a red light if the engine is running and you are in the driver's seat. Picking up the phone at the lights is the same offence as using it while moving.
Is it legal if my phone is in a mounted cradle?
For a fully licensed driver, a phone secured in a fixed mount can be used for limited functions like navigation or audio, provided you do not touch it in a way the rules prohibit. Learners and P1 drivers face tighter restrictions. Confirm what your licence class allows on the QLD Government road rules page.
How will I know if a camera has caught me?
You are not told at the roadside. If a reviewed image confirms an offence, an infringement notice is posted to the registered address for the vehicle, usually within a few weeks. That is one reason to keep your registration address up to date.
Can I dispute a mobile phone camera fine?
You can. Every flagged image is checked by an officer before a fine issues, but if you believe it is wrong you can request a review or elect to have the matter heard in court. The infringement notice explains how to do this and the deadline for responding.
Do the cameras also catch passengers not wearing seatbelts?
The cameras are aimed at the front of the vehicle and can detect seatbelt offences for the driver and front passenger. The driver can also be penalised for an unrestrained passenger who is under 16, so it is not only the person in the driver's seat who matters.
Useful QLD Government Resources
- Mobile phone and seatbelt cameras Queensland Government
- Demerit points Queensland Government
- Mobile phones and driving rules Queensland Government
- Mobile phone distractions factsheet StreetSmarts, Queensland Government
Related reading: the fastest P plate cars for QLD drivers and which petrol you should use.
Sell Any Car Fast is a licensed QLD motor dealer (DLN 4871214). This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fines, demerit point rules, and camera locations can change, and TMR does not publish a full list of camera sites, so confirm the current details on the Queensland Government website before you rely on them.
