Today cameras capture not just visible light but also infrared, and some can even pick up ultraviolet. They can monitor cabin activity, identify the driver, and sometimes recognize faces.
Yet applying old laws from a previous era to modern technologies often leads to complaints and mistakes.
One illustrative case involves an unjustified fine for not wearing a seatbelt.
case from practice
Oleg Ch. used a shared car while fully complying with traffic rules and the car rental service guidelines. The mobile app, however, showed a fine for not fastening the seatbelt.
Careful review of the photo from the system that detects violations revealed the actual scenario.
The driver’s left down jacket hooded the belt slightly and blocked the belt in the image on the right. The belt area near the pillar was also hard to see because the belt color blended with the dark interior of the car.
How to object to an unjust fine?
A motorist who challenges such a decision would typically need authorization from the car-sharing service, since the fine is issued to the car owner or the rental platform. Alternatively, a car-sharing delegate with proper authorization could appear before the traffic police to have the fine rewritten for the driver, in accordance with applicable administrative procedures, and then file an appeal.
This process can be time consuming, leading many to simply pay the fine, often leaving a lingering impression of unfairness.
That is why recommendations are offered to drivers who want to avoid fines caused by camera misreads.
How to help the neural network
1. Acquire a small belt pad that remains visible to cameras. Some European countries facing similar issues have adopted this approach.
2. Avoid black outerwear during daytime, since black clothing can blend with the belt in images. Opt for outerwear in bright colors. At night, a black down jacket or coat is less troublesome because infrared cameras clearly register the belt against the dark background.
3. Check that the belt remains visible during travel by adjusting clothing if needed. The belt should be plainly visible at all times.
4. Do not conceal the belt under clothing, as this increases the risk of a fine.
5. Do not rush to pay a fine if the footage seems inaccurate. Filing an objection through the appropriate national authority is now possible in many cases.
What’s next?
The trend shows no sign of slowing. The number of detected violations and the types of infractions shown by cameras are likely to rise, and penalties may be issued for deviations from algorithmic norms. The rationale for drivers paying for errors in smart systems remains unclear, especially when the law does not always align with those practices. Manually reviewing millions of fines is impractical, which increases the chance of ongoing errors.
More cameras are planned, and they will gradually appear in regions where they were rare before. They are being deployed faster than the technology can mature, so it will take time before all systems are perfected and misreads are minimized.
Following practical recommendations helps keep costs lower and stress lower for drivers.
- The testimony of a passenger in the cabin at the moment of the photograph can simplify the process of contesting a fine.
- Information can be monitored and shared via messaging apps for updates and guidance.