Getting an infringement notice

Part of the Fines topic

Understand infringement notices and what to do when you get one.

In short

An infringement notice is a ticket issued by an agency for an offence. There are consequences to not paying or taking action on the notice by the due date. You may be able to dispute a notice if you don't agree with it.

Paying an infringement notice

How to set up a payment plan
Paying instalments

Infringement notices are often sent by email or post and can be issued in person. They may be for offences such as speeding, parking illegally or failing to vote in an election.

A notice contains information about the alleged offence, the fine amount owed and due date to pay the fine.

How to set up a payment plan

If you can’t pay your infringement notice straight away, you can enter into a payment plan with the agency that issued the fine (e.g. the Department of Transport and Main Roads) before the fine is referred to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER).

You can enter into a payment plan if:

your fine is at least $200, and
the due date of the fine has not passed.

To set up a payment plan, you can:

contact the agency that issued the infringement notice, or
complete and sign that section on your infringement notice, and post to the agency. You will need to include an initial payment of $60.

Once the initial payment has been received, the issuing agency will register the fine with SPER who will manage your payment plan.

SPER will send you a payment notice and a payment schedule to follow until the fine has been paid.

If you do not follow the payment schedule, SPER may cancel your payment plan.

Paying instalments

You can set up automatic payments from your credit card or bank account, or use another payment option.

If you enter into a payment plan with the issuing agency before an enforcement order is issued by SPER, a registration fee will not apply to that debt.

However, if you miss a payment SPER will cancel the payment plan. They will then send you an enforcement order, which will include a registration fee.

Failing to pay an infringement notice

You must act by the due date on your infringement notice or you risk actions taken against you:

The agency that issued the notice can refer it to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER). You will be issued with an enforcement order that includes a registration fee of $83.60 and a new due date.
You may be prosecuted in a magistrates court.

Disputing an infringement notice

You may have a valid reason to disagree with the infringement notice. You can dispute the notice with the issuing agency. You must do this before the due date to avoid extra costs.