Brisbane Drivers Using Everyday Items to Hide Licence Plates from Parking Cameras

Drivers in Brisbane, Australia, are using everyday items like plastic sheets, camping chairs, and dishcloths to hide their licence plates from new parking cameras. Brisbane City Council has set up automatic cameras across the city to catch people who park illegally. So far this year, the council has handed out nearly $35 million worth of parking fines. Some drivers are trying to trick the cameras by blocking their view of the plates.

Brisbane City Council said it knows this is happening from time to time. Council officers can walk around on foot to check what is going on and decide what to do in each case. However, the council cannot give out fines for hidden or changed number plates because that is covered under state law, not local council rules. That means a different authority handles punishing drivers who cover their plates.

The Queensland Police Service explained that number plates must be easy to read from 20 metres away at a 45-degree angle in all directions. Police said that plates hidden by bull bars, tow bars, driving lights, or any kind of material are all against the law. This also includes plates tucked under parts of a vehicle. Police said they regularly check number plates and will issue a fine if a plate does not follow the rules.

The new parking cameras run all day and all night, every single day. They started in four busy spots in early 2025 and have since expanded to more than 40 locations across Brisbane. The cameras watch for cars stopped illegally in clearways, no-stopping zones, bus zones, loading zones, and on yellow lines. So far, these cameras alone have been responsible for just over 8,000 fines this year.

Two locations have stood out for the number of fines issued. Graham Street in South Brisbane and Park Road in Milton together accounted for more than 3,000 infringement notices. In total, Brisbane City Council has issued 176,494 parking fines this calendar year, adding up to $34,941,602. The council's mobile enforcement vehicles have also delivered almost 100,000 fines since January 1.

Councillor Sarah Hutton, who oversees customer services for the council, said the goal is to make drivers think carefully before parking illegally. She said that when a car parks in a clearway, no-stopping zone, or bus zone, it causes delays for thousands of people. She added that even a quick stop in the wrong place can slow down traffic and create safety risks. The council hopes the cameras will encourage drivers to follow the rules.