Can I pay the fine and still dispute it?

Once you've paid, your options shrink. Internal review is intended to happen before payment. Court election after payment is technically possible but procedurally messier.

Are 2026 fine amounts the same in every state?

No. Each state sets its own. NSW is at the higher end. VIC, QLD and others have separate schedules. unbook surfaces the right figure for your state once you upload the notice.

Will lodging a review affect my insurance?

No — internal review is not visible to insurers. Insurers see demerit points if they're recorded; if a caution is issued, no points are recorded.

Mobile phone fine 2026 just hit A$1,250. Here's what to do.

Published 2026-05-07 · 5 min read

TL;DR

2026 mobile-phone-camera fines in Australia jumped to A$700–1,250 plus 5 demerit points. At those numbers, a A$39 dispute attempt is a 95%+ expected-value play even if odds of success are modest. The strongest grounds: AI image ambiguity (FOI), 10-year clean record, and procedural defects.

If your fine looks like this:

A$700–1,250 fine for mobile phone use while driving
Issued by an AI camera
5 demerit points listed
Image quality is marginal or the "phone" could be ambiguous

Step-by-step

Don't pay yet
Once you pay, the review options narrow significantly. Review first, pay only if review fails.
Run a quick analysis
Photograph the notice and run it through unbook (free) or a similar tool. The output tells you if there's a solid angle.
Lodge a §24A internal review
Free. ~8 weeks turnaround. Pause is automatic. Asks Revenue NSW to review the notice on the grounds you specify.
Stack arguments
Don't pick one angle. Stack: AI evidence ambiguity (FOI request), procedural defect (notice number, officer id), 10-year clean record (caution discretion). Each one alone may be moderate; together they're strong.
If upheld, decide on court
Court election triggers a separate process and typically a lawyer. unbook hands off to a partner traffic-law firm at this point.

Primary sources

Common questions

Can I pay the fine and still dispute it?: Once you've paid, your options shrink. Internal review is intended to happen before payment. Court election after payment is technically possible but procedurally messier.
Are 2026 fine amounts the same in every state?: No. Each state sets its own. NSW is at the higher end. VIC, QLD and others have separate schedules. unbook surfaces the right figure for your state once you upload the notice.
Will lodging a review affect my insurance?: No — internal review is not visible to insurers. Insurers see demerit points if they're recorded; if a caution is issued, no points are recorded.

Got a fine you want unbooked?

Photograph your notice. We'll find the holes — A$39 flat, no charge if we don't.

Analyse my fine — free →