Mobile phone detection cameras in NSW reviewed after photo taken up woman’s skirt to fine her
Compromising photo forces urgent review into mobile phone cameras as the driver hit with the fine reveals how lawyer reacted when she showed him
- A mobile detection camera snapped up a woman’s skirt
- A review has been launched into the cameras
A review has been launched into mobile phone detection cameras after one snapped a compromising picture of a woman, sparking privacy concerns.
Cinzia Lee raised the matter after she was snapped using her phone while driving in Sydney, something she’s owned up to and taken full responsibility for.
However, it was the photo accompanying her fine in the mail that started alarm bells ringing.
‘Shock and distress was my initial reaction,’ Ms Lee told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
‘You could see up my skirt, between my legs, you could see my underwear.’
She got in touch with Service New South Wales to file a complaint.
The mobile phone cameras have been used in NSW since March 2020, and normally have a black bar placed over any sensitive content
Cinzia Lee was shocked to find a compromising mobile camera photo showing up her skirt
‘I got a written letter back which basically ignored everything that I said, except to say that someone in the office does look at the photos, so I just felt that just wasn’t an acceptable response,’ said Ms Lee.
She spoke to a prosecutor, who suffered some embarrassment over the matter.
‘He went totally red and flushed,’ said Ms Lee.
‘He said I’m sorry this has happened.’
Ms Lee raised the matter when her charge went before court, and while the magistrates acknowledged the sensitive content of the picture was out of his control, he did waive the fine.
A review has been launched into mobile phone detection cameras
‘This is happening probably more than we understand,’ Ms Lee added.
‘You feel a bit like David versus Goliath, because you have no control over who has seen those photos … that’s just a really, really awful feeling.’
NSW Roads Minister Natalie Ward said in a statement: ‘I understand the distress and I have asked Transport for NSW to review protocols for the handling of sensitive images.’
The mobile phone detection cameras have been used in NSW since March 2020, with testing underway since November 2022 to enable the cameras to also detect seatbelt infringements.