Motorists are furious after footage emerged of a mobile speed camera placed in bushes and hidden from unsuspecting motorists.
The camera was caught while he was riding along a road in Yugar, on the outskirts of Brisbane.
A passerby took a photo of the cunning setup and claimed that there were no warning signs in the area.
Social media users were outraged, with some calling the act a form of monetization.
“If (speed cameras) are hidden, it’s not about safety, it’s about revenue,” one person argued.
“Remember, this is really about safety, not about raising money,” another repeated sarcastically.
One of them joked that generating revenue was essential to compensate for the loss of money incurred after the state government cut public transport fares.
“(They) have to pay the 50c for public transport somehow,” they wrote.
A speed camera hidden under the dappled light of a eucalyptus tree has sparked debate
Other motorists defended the measure, saying it was not a problem for people who kept to the speed limit.
“A speed camera is pointless if you have enough time to slow down and then speed up again,” someone said.
“It’s all about not driving too fast because you know you won’t notice until you’re done.”
“How about just not speeding. Then you won’t have a problem,” said another.
Many were confused about the legality of the cameras’ placement, comparing mobile camera laws in New South Wales with those in Queensland.
In New South Wales, the state government must warn motorists “that they are approaching a fixed digital speed camera”.
In both states, camera vehicles are marked, but in Queensland this does not apply to approximately 30 percent of vehicles.
Queensland police said they could not verify the exact location or camera in the footage, but did say their ‘TruCam’ speed camera can be mounted on a tripod and has been used by police for several years.
Queensland Police use a range of different speed enforcement devices to monitor motorists
Speeding in Queensland can result in hefty fines. If you are caught driving 11 to 20km/h over the speed limit, you could be issued with a $464 fine and three penalty points.
Driving 20 to 30 km/h above the speed limit will result in a fine of $696 and a penalty of four demerit points.
Stuart Thistlewood, CEO of the company behind driving school EasyAs, said the clip was posted as a “lighthearted” observation with a serious undertone.
“These types of cameras are becoming more common and while we understand the need for enforcement, their sudden appearance can catch drivers off guard, especially new drivers who may be feeling less confident,” he said. Yeah.
Mr Thistlewood advised novice drivers to be careful in traffic.
‘Especially novice drivers and drivers who receive a P-card must always drive slightly slower than the maximum speed, because they will have fewer points left.’