Camera or cop: Understanding the procedurally just nature of AI-based camera and police officer detected Mobile phone offending

Verity Truelove; Levi Anderson; Lyndel Bates; Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios

doi:10.1016/j.trf.2026.103607

Camera or cop: Understanding the procedurally just nature of AI-based camera and police officer detected Mobile phone offending

Verity Truelove, Levi Anderson, Lyndel Bates Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios

Transportation Research. Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, Vol.119, pp.1-12

2026

: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2026.103607

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Distracted driving

Mobile phone camera

Procedural justice

Road policing

Traffic camera

Traffic police

This study investigates the application of procedural justice principles to police and AI-based camera enforcement of mobile phone use while driving. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, two studies were conducted: qualitative interviews with 26 police officers and a quantitative survey of 292 drivers. The interviews explored officers' perceptions of fairness, respect, trustworthy motives, and voice during enforcement interactions, and compared this with their understanding of AI-Based enforcement. The survey compared drivers' perceptions of these procedural justice dimensions across police and camera enforcement. The interview results provided a unique perspective on how the procedural justice principles could be applied to experiences of police enforcement of phone use while driving, and also qualitatively compared police and camera enforcement for this offence. The survey results indicate that among drivers, police enforcement is perceived as significantly more procedurally just, particularly regarding listening, respect, and politeness, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. These findings suggest that the human element in police interactions plays a critical role in fostering public trust and perceived legitimacy, which may not be replicated by automated camera systems. The study highlights the need for careful consideration of procedural justice principles in the implementation of technological enforcement methods to ensure they complement, rather than undermine, established justice practices.

: Camera or cop: Understanding the procedurally just nature of AI-based camera and police officer detected Mobile phone offending
: Verity Truelove (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Levi Anderson - University of the Sunshine Coast
Lyndel Bates - Griffith University
Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios - Delft University of Technology
: Transportation Research. Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, Vol.119, pp.1-12
: Elsevier Ltd
: 2026
: 10.1016/j.trf.2026.103607
: 1873-5517
: © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).
: The authors do not have permission to share data.
: The Motor Accident Insurance Commission provided funding to the University of the Sunshine Coast to support the MAIC/UniSC Road Safety Research Collaboration to conduct research activities that aim to reduce the incidence of motor vehicle crashes.
: Road Safety Research Collaboration; School of Law and Society
: English
: 991222744002621
: Journal article