Understanding Fines, Penalty Notices, and Your Options
Explore the collection process of fines and penalty notices, including instalments, waivers, and work development orders. Learn about dealing with one-off fines, multiple fines, and the implications of not handling them properly. Discover resources and hotlines for assistance with penalty notices and acknowledgements of country.
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Fines & Penalty Notices 2: Instalments, Waivers & WDOs
David Hofierka Solicitor, Credit, Debt & Consumer Law Redfern Legal Centre
Acknowledgement Of Country
Outline: Fines & Penalty Notices 2: Instalments, Waivers & WDOs 1. Fines and Penalty Notices 2. Penalty Notice Collection Process 3. Revenue NSW Advocacy Hotline 4. Options for dealing with a one-off fine 5. Options for dealing with multiple fines 6. Questions & more information Resources: www.rlc.org.au/training/resources/fines
Acknowledgement Of Country Notices Fines & Penalty 5
Fines & Penalty Notices Two types of fines: 1. Court Fines 1. Penalty Notices. Revenue NSW (formally State Debt Recovery) receive, process and enforce fines. http://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/
Penalty Notice Collection Acknowledgement Of Country Process 7
21 Source: Inner City Legal Centre
Penalty Notice collection process (cont.) Roads & Maritime (RMS) restrictions: Suspend driver licence Cancel vehicle registration Customer Business Restriction $40 added to overdue fine for each restriction.
Penalty Notice collection process (cont.) Civil Sanctions: Property Seizure Order Garnishee order to employer Garnishee order to bank Examination Summons Charge on land $65 added to fine for each civil sanction used
Penalty Notice collection process (cont.) Community Corrections Order (previously called Community Service Order)
Revenue NSW Advocacy Hotline
Revenue NSW Advocacy Hotline A direct line for community workers 1300 135 627 http://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/fines/partner/factsheet/advocacy-hotline Priority phone and email service. To use it, you must be an employee of an approved organisation and be individually registered.
Options for dealing with a single fine
John Fine for travelling on a train without a ticket. Accepts the offence, but cannot afford to pay.
John: Penalty Notice / Reminder Notice stage Pay a lump sum Pay in instalments before due date Apply for Time to Pay / pay by Centrepay instalments (only if on Centrelink) Apply for a Work and Development Order (if eligible)
John: Enforcement Order stage Pay a lump sum Apply for time to pay plan Apply for a stay on enforcement action Apply for a Work and Development Order (if eligible) Apply for a write-off
Options for dealing with multiple fines
Amy: Multiple fines Many fines totaling almost $2,500 Homeless for many years Recently in public housing Disability Support Pension
Options for dealing with multiple fines Request from Revenue NSW a client statement summary of enforced fines and current penalty notices
Options for dealing with multiple fines 1. Time to Pay by Instalment application: Centrepay instalments of $10-$15 per fortnight generally accepted Can assist client to set up instalment arrangement via advocacy hotline RMS sanctions can be lifted
Options for dealing with multiple fines 2. Work and Development Order (WDO) Receipt of a Centrelink benefit Serious financial hardship Homelessness Serious addition to drugs, alcohol Mental illness Intellectual disability Cognitive impairment
Options for dealing with multiple fines 3. Write off application: Due to serious financial, medical or personal circumstances, a person: Is unable to pay the fine now/or in the future. Does not own any goods that can be seized. Does not have any income that can be garnished. Does not own any property that Revenue NSW can impose a charge on. Is not able to do community service (through a CCO) or a WDO is inappropriate.
Options for dealing with multiple fines 4. Hardship Review Board: Review of Revenue NSW decisions about: A time to pay application A WDO application or order Writing off all or part of an unpaid fine
Questions? David Hofierka Solicitor, Credit, Debt & Consumer Law Redfern Legal Centre Resources: www.rlc.org.au/training/resources/fines
When to get legal advice on fines If your client wants to challenge the penalty notice in court If your client wants to annul old penalty notices, and then challenge them in court If your client is refused a postponement/ write off application
Where to get free, confidential legal advice on fines Most community legal centres: https://www.clcnsw.org.au/resource/community-legal-centres-nsw- directory-2018 Legal Aid NSW www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/contact-us/legal-aid-nsw-offices Homeless Persons Legal Service https://www.piac.asn.au/legal-help/hpls-clinic- times-locations Shopfront Youth Legal Service (under 25s) www.theshopfront.org
Before You Go Your feedback helps us improve our training. Please stay with us for another 60 seconds rlc.org.au/training Training: rlc.org.au/training education@rlc.org.au Enquiries: Nick Manning education@rlc.org.au This workshop is a guide to the law in NSW, Australia. It is not a substitute for legal advice. If you have a legal problem, seek legal advice from a legal centre or Legal Aid.
