Mobile speed cameras have returned to Wagga's streets after a two-month absence, but drivers have copped only a fraction of the fines compared to earlier in the year.
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Revenue NSW figures showed 61 speeding fines from mobile cameras on Wagga's streets in September for penalties totalling $13,542.
Wagga recorded zero mobile speeding fines during August, following a month of zero fines in July, despite previous months having seen drivers hit with up to 550 infringements and $80,000 in penalties.
Transport for NSW told a budget estimates hearing that month that Acusensus, the new speed camera contractor for southern areas of NSW, including Wagga, had "suffered quite significant impacts from COVID-19" and faced delays in hiring staff and procuring vehicles.
Acusensus has now nearly tripled the number of enforcement hours on the road in southern NSW and has increased its fleet of cars from 3 to 55.
Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary for safety, environment and regulation, Tara McCarthy, said reomving warning signs from mobile speed camera program was working to change driver behaviour.
"One in 100 drivers [were] caught by the cameras in September, compared with a peak of one in 70 drivers caught by the cameras in early April," she said.
"Mobile speed cameras are designed to deter drivers across the entire network and can operate at any time and move regularly. Their unpredictable nature helps enforce the importance of driving to the speed limit at all times."
Labor has demanded documents around the "failings of the mobile speed camera program" due to Wagga and other areas having months with zero fines recorded.
Last month, Labor MLC John Graham moved a motion in the NSW upper house demanding "all documents, including correspondence and briefings" on the mobile speed camera program outage and "negotiations with Acusensus regarding the delivery of their contract" for the enforcement program.
The motion to demand the documents as passed without need for a division and the government now has until November 10 to respond.
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