Almost one in 10 mobile speed camera fines cannot be issued, with illegible and obstructed number plates helping motorists dodge tickets.
But motorists are warned not to be complacent, with the Queensland Police Service upgrading all cameras from analogue to digital, resulting in a boost in accuracy.
![The rollout of digital mobile speed cameras has resulted in a 16 per cent increase in offences detected resulting in ...](/web/20160922011506im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/v/r/t/q/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.grki8x.png/1474374413128.jpg)
From June 2015 to April 2016, there was a 16 per cent increase in the number of offences detected in the mobile speed camera program resulting in notices issued.
As of April 2016, the percentage of detected offences resulting in notices issued under the program was 91.44 per cent.
Main Roads and Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey said the old analogue cameras were not as reliable or technologically advanced, so the number plates were not as clear.
"Obstructed and deteriorated plates can also cause notices not to be issued," Mr Bailey said.
The figures were detailed in a response to a report into road safety and traffic cameras tabled to Queensland Parliament.
A Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said that in the month of June 2015 the mobile speed camera program - cameras in vans/cars - detected 67,207 offences, of which 53,397 resulted in speeding notices being issued.
In April 2016, the program detected 55,152 offences, of which 49,578 resulted in speeding notices issued.
"The exact figure is not known but the Queensland Audit Office has estimated that from 2013–14 to 2014–15, fines for offences that didn't proceed would have totalled about $15.7 million due to issues with analogue cameras," the spokeswoman said.
"This would be a conservative estimate as it is based on the lowest speeding fine."
The state government will spend $600,000 over three years on a campaign that will include educating the public to replace illegal number plates.
It will also involve educating drivers on their legal requirements on obstructed number plates, for example, by tow bars.
"The upcoming campaign will aim to reduce the burden of road trauma on Queensland communities," Mr Bailey said.
"We want to decrease the number of offending drivers evading detection through illegible number plates."
The final details of the campaign will be confirmed in the coming months, but it is expected to be launched in the first half of 2017.
Queensland Police has rolled out digital mobile speed cameras to replace analogue cameras in recent years.
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