Motorists could soon be required to receive a physical parking ticket or written notification at the time of an alleged offence, under proposed legislative changes.
The State Government plans to amend regulations to prevent councils routinely issuing parking fines based solely on footage captured by mobile AI-assisted cameras, with infringement notices instead arriving by post days later.
Under the proposed rules, council inspectors would need to leave a ticket or written notification on the vehicle, or hand it to the driver, before a fine could be issued. Limited exemptions would apply where necessary to protect officer safety.
The move follows significant scrutiny and community concern about the technology. The City of Adelaide has issued almost 70,000 AI-camera parking expiations since the system was introduced, with around one in four disputed fines withdrawn.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said receiving a fine more than a week after an alleged parking offence can leave drivers without the opportunity to properly understand the circumstances or gather evidence at the time.
“The rate at which challenged fines are being withdrawn shows something isn’t right with the current system and that’s why we’re acting to end ticketless parking fines,” Premier Malinasukas said.
The announcement comes as Mount Barker District Council continues trialling AI-assisted parking cameras in the Mount Barker district, including Hahndorf..
No parking fines are being issued through the Mount Barker trial which started in August.
Mayor David Leach said the technology may be a useful tool in monitoring parking demand, monitoring traffic flow and detecting damaged or missing roadside signs.
Council previously said any potential parking breach identified by the technology would be reviewed by a Public Safety Officer before an infringement notice was issued. No decision has been made about introducing the technology more widely.
The proposed State Government amendments to the Expiation of Offences Regulations 2026 under the Expiation of Offences Act 1996 would not prevent councils from using AI cameras to monitor parking, but would require physical notification before a parking or stopping fine could be issued.
The changes are not about stopping parking enforcement, but making sure it is carried out through a fair and accountable process.
