Author: Ophelia Hollway
Practice area: driving offences
Ophelia is a Senior Associate and LIV Accredited Criminal Law Specialist at Doogue + George, appearing regularly as a solicitor advocate across Victorian courts and having practised exclusively in criminal law since admission. Her depth of experience in this area means clients receive accurate, considered advice.
View full profile →Ophelia authored this content and last revised it for accuracy on 6 August 2026.
What is the offence of Offence to Obstruct Person Operating Road Safety Camera or Speed Detector?
This offence addresses conduct that interferes with the lawful enforcement of road laws by targeting those using approved detection equipment. It criminalises behaviour that disrupts or undermines the proper functioning of speed detection and camera operations carried out under Victorian road safety legislation.
Key points
- Legislation: Section 73A of the Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic).
- Conduct element: Obstructing, hindering, threatening, abusing or intimidating a person while they are operating the equipment.
- Usual court level: Magistrates’ Court.
The maximum penalty for Offence to Obstruct Person Operating Road Safety Camera or Speed Detector is 60 penalty units ($12,546 as at 2026-27).
Common defences may include factual dispute, beyond reasonable doubt, or that the charge is statute barred.
Have you been accused of Obstructing Person Operating Road Safety Camera or Speed Detector?
Police Interview
The police will interview you if they suspect you have Obstructed a Person Operating a Road Safety Camera or Speed Detector.
Prior to speaking to police it is most important that you seek advice from an expert criminal lawyer. A criminal lawyer will talk you through your options and provide you with the best possible advice about whether to answer questions put to you during the police interview.
One of our lawyers can also advise you of your rights and obligations so you do not say or do anything with can make it difficult for you to contest the charge of Obstructing Person Operating Road Safety Camera or Speed Detector later on in court.
Pleading Not Guilty
You may decide to contest a charge of Obstructing Person Operating Road Safety Camera or Speed Detector because it is your position that it did not happen. Make time to speak with one of our experienced criminal defence lawyers who can represent you in court and advise you of all the things you must know.
An expert criminal lawyer will ensure that your case is thoroughly prepared and that your defence is put squarely before the Court. Each criminal offence has elements that police must prove beyond reasonable doubt. A criminal lawyer will put police to their proof and demonstrate to the Court when those elements cannot be made out.
Pleading Guilty
A criminal lawyer will tell you that all offences are taken seriously by the Court, and there is no such thing as a ‘slap on the wrist’. If you are pleading guilty to Offence to Obstruct Person Operating Road Safety Camera or Speed Detector a criminal lawyer will provide expert advice and representation and ensure that you receive the best possible outcome in terms of penalty before the Court.
Sentencing
Sentencing in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
Source: Sentencing Advisory Council of Victoria (SACStat), Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic) s 73A — 37 charges across 34 cases, Magistrates’ Court, 1 July 2020 – 30 June 2023.
| Outcome | % |
|---|---|
| Fine | 54.1% |
| Adjourned Undertaking | 29.7% |
| Community Correction Order | 16.2% |
The data indicates that courts most frequently deal with this offence through financial penalties or bond-type outcomes rather than imprisonment. When determining sentence, the court will consider the nature of the intimidation, the circumstances of the incident and the offender’s prior history. Early legal advice can assist in presenting the matter effectively and reducing the potential impact of the charge.
Which court will the case be heard in?
This is the sort of charge regularly heard in the Magistrates’ Court.
What is the legal definition of Offence to Obstruct Person Operating Road Safety Camera or Speed Detector?
This offence arises when a person obstructs, hinders, threatens, abuses or intimidates a person who is operating a road safety camera or a speed detector.
Examples of Offence to Obstruct Person Operating Road Safety Camera or Speed Detector
- You are driving your car and notice a policeman operating a speed detector on the side of the road. You are nervous that they caught you speeding, so you yell at them through your window, telling them that they better ‘watch out’.
Legislation
The legislation for this offence can be found on section 73A of Road Safety Act 1986.
Elements of the offence
The prosecution must prove the following beyond reasonable doubt:
- The person was operating a road safety camera or a speed detector
- When the person was operating the road safety camera or speed detector, the accused either: Obstructed the person, or
- Hindered the person, or
- Threatened the person, or
- Abused the person, or
- Intimidated the person
1) Was the person operating a road safety camera or a speed detector at the time?
A “road safety camera” means a system consisting of a camera and associated equipment that is used or intended to be used for the purpose of detecting the commission of offences against the Road Safety Act 1986.
A “speed detector” means a device that is used or intended to be used for the purpose of detecting the commission of offences against the Road Safety Act 1986.
A person will only be ‘operating’ a road safety camera and a speed detector if they are using it correctly – i.e. to detect the commission of offences under the Act. For instance, they wouldn’t be ‘operating’ the equipment if they were using for their own amusement.
The offence can only be committed whilst the person is operating the equipment. For instance, you won’t be committing an offence under this section if you threaten the person a week after they were operating a road safety camera (although you may be charged with a different offence).
2) Did you obstruct the person operating the road safety camera or speed detector?
‘Obstruct’ means preventing the person from operating the road safety camera or speed detector. For instance, you might walk up to the person and take the equipment from them and run away. This would be ‘obstructing’ them.
3) Did you hinder the person operating the road safety camera or speed detector?
‘Hinder’ has a similar meaning to obstruct. Did you make it difficult for the person to operate the equipment? For example, you might tamper with the equipment when they are not looking.
4) Did you threaten the person operating the road safety camera or speed detector?
There is a great deal of case law dealing with ‘threats’ in other criminal law contexts. A threat can be made through words or conduct1, and a course of conduct can amount to a threat2. For instance, you may drive past a person operating a speed detector and silently make a gesture which signifies slitting their throat. This would amount to a threat.
Can they prove you threatened the person?
5) Did you abuse the person operating the road safety camera or speed detector?
This will usually be a more aggravated version of the offence. You may abuse the person operating the equipment by physically hurting them or using abusive language.
6) Did you intimidate the person?
Similarly, you may intimidate a person operating the equipment by using language or gestures designed to frighten them.
Overall, whether you have obstructed, hindered, threatened, abused or intimidated someone operating a road safety camera or a speed detector will depend on all the surrounding circumstances. You should seek criminal law advice if you have been charged with this offence.
Defences
This charge may be defended in court through a factual dispute, the concept of beyond reasonable doubt, or because of the charge being statute barred.
Questions in cases like this
- Was the victim operating a road safety camera or a speed detector at the time of the offence?
- Was your behaviour towards them threatening or intimidating?
- Did you hinder or obstruct them in some way?
You should ring us and discuss your case if you have been charged. Deciding on whether to plead guilty or not has huge consequences for you and should be made after proper discussion with a criminal lawyer.
Maximum penalty for section 73A of Road Safety Act 1986
The offence to obstruct etc a person operating road safety camera or speed detector (s73A of Road Safety Act 1986) has a maximum penalty of 60 penalty units ($12,546 as at 2026-27).
