A fine is a sum of money you must pay if you have broken certain laws. You will likely receive an infringement notice in the mail which explains your offence, how much your fine is, and when it is due (usually 28 days after it is issued).
Fines, sadly, do not go away, and if you don’t pay them, they grow bigger and bigger, with added fees tacked on. If you can’t pay your fines, you do have some options. You can fight the fine or you can ask for a payment plan to pay your fines off over time.
Payment plans
The amount you have to pay can be very small, for example $20 a month. You do not have to pay a lot, despite the person on the other end of the phone possibly saying you do. If you are uncomfortable negotiating an amount, you can nominate another person to do the talking for you.
Common fines
- Parking
- Driving (speeding, running red lights)
- Littering
- Public transport (no valid ticket)
- E-tag
You can also get on-the-spot fines for bad behaviour:
- ‘Indecent’ language (swearing)
- ‘Offensive’ behaviour
- Drinking alcohol on an unlicenced premises
- Not leaving a building or location when asked to by police
- Shoplifting goods of up to $600
- Damaging property up to $500
- Public drunkenness
- Trying to get into a bar you have been kicked out of
If you were under 18 at the time
The Children’s Court has different rules for dealing with the fines of minors. It is called the Children and Young Persons Infringement Notice System (CAYPINS). If the agency who fined you agrees, and you aren’t arguing that you didn’t deserve the fine, you can go to a CAYPINS meeting with a registrar instead of the Magistrate.
An agreement will be reached regarding how the fine will be paid, and in some instances, the registrar can negotiate a smaller fine or get rid of the fine altogether. If the outcome isn’t good for you, you can have it reviewed.
If you want to fight a fine, you can help your outcomes by contacting Vanessa Ash.
Write your own story. Call Vanessa Ash and Associates today.