Motorist alerts banned

Companies that profiteer from alerting motorists to police operations such as random breath testing (RBT) sites will be banned under new Queensland laws.

Police Minister Judy Spence said the maximum penalty would be a $7500 fine for each offence.

Cabinet on Monday approved the laws to be introduced into state parliament this week.

"This is in response to a particular company called Road Spy, which is operating on the Gold Coast, which this year seeks to profit from subscribers who are alerted to police road traffic operations," Ms Spence said.

"To send SMS alerts to motorists advising them where police have set up random breath tests is effectively promoting drink driving as it is telling drivers which roads to avoid on their way home.

"This is totally irresponsible and will not be tolerated."

Ms Spence said radio stations would not be banned from broadcasting such information, although it was not encouraged.

Road Spy sends SMS alerts to subscribers on the locations of RBT, speed cameras and traffic jams at a cost of at least 76 cents a day.

It came under fire earlier this year from the state government, police and the RACQ for "gambling with the lives of motorists".

Road Spy's creator, Adam Bush, on Monday was unsure what the new laws would mean for his business.

"We may have to restructure our organisation," he said.

Mr Bush said Road Spy had around 200 subscribers and he could hardly be described as profiteering from the service.

"At the moment we haven't profited from it," he said.

Source: AAP 2006