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Fraser Barton

Camera glitch leaves drivers incorrectly suspended

The road safety cameras detect drivers using their mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts. (PR HANDOUT/AAP IMAGE)

A design fault in Queensland's mobile phone and seatbelt cameras has left almost 2000 people incorrectly fined and more than 600 drivers losing their licence.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said he was made aware of the issue on Wednesday, with his department requesting urgent legal advice.

He said double demerits points had been incorrectly issued for 1842 drivers from November 1, 2021, to August 31 this year, while 626 licences had been wrongly suspended.

"Simply put, this should never have happened," the minister told reporters on Friday.

"I'm very sorry to every person who has been impacted by this. 

"I can assure them that the Department of Transport and Main Roads will commence notifying all impacted licence holders from today."

The glitch was picked up in a routine analysis of department trends. 

Affected drivers can call a 24-hour hotline, with details on the Transport and Main Roads website.

Laws targeting drivers using their mobile phones were introduced in July 2021, with almost 1800 people snapped offending the first week cameras were in use.

Cameras were installed across the state and went live after a July-October trial that year.

Mr Bailey said 632 people were serving incorrect good behaviour periods and 236 people had previously served incorrect good behaviour periods.

Some 43 interstate or overseas licence holders were incorrectly suspended from driving in Queensland.

"There will be a full and urgent independent review of this matter," Mr Bailey said.

"This is our mistake and we will do everything we can to work with impacted people. 

"This shouldn't have happened. I'm very angry about it."

The department will consider compensation as part of the review. 

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the error was a "big deal" that was costing taxpayers.

"We are seeing a breakdown in service delivery across the state, across multiple portfolios, and no one has been held accountable," he said.

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