This page provides help with the most common questions about your fines.

If your fine was issued by a court, see Court fine FAQs.

• Demerit points

  How can I check my demerit points?

  The VicRoads website provides information on how you can check your demerit points.

• I didn't know about my fine

  I didn't know about my fine, and I now have a penalty reminder notice. What can I do?

  If you were not issued an on-the-spot fine, we recognise there are circumstances where a person is unaware that an infringement notice has been served.

  In these instances, a person may apply for an internal review on the grounds that you were not aware of the original fine ("person unaware"). You must apply within 14 days of becoming aware of the fine. The application should be accompanied with supporting evidence.

  I didn't know about my fine. It is now at enforcement stage with Fines Victoria. What can I do?

  If you just found out that you have a fine, but it has progressed to a Notice of Final Demand or Warrant, there are options available to you, but you need to act quickly as there are strict time limits.

  Tolling, red light and speeding fines (excluding excessive speeding (>25km/h over the limit)

  This answer only relates to tolling, red light and speeding fines (excluding excessive speeding fines) - If you did not receive your fine in person and have only just found out about it, you can make an application to the Magistrates' Court for an extension of time to deal with it.

  If your extension of time application is granted by a magistrate, you will receive 28 days to deal with the fine as if you were aware of the original infringement notice. This includes reinstating your options (for 28 days) to nominate, elect to go to court, or submit a review.

  An application for extension of time must be made to the Magistrates' Court within 14 days of you becoming aware of the fine and be accompanied by an affidavit or by a statutory declaration setting out your grounds for seeking an extension.

  Contact your local Magistrates' Court for further information.

  If you are unsure what type of fine you have contact Fines Victoria before making an application.

  Parking and other fines (excluding excessive speeding (>25km/h over the limit)

  If you did not receive the fine in person and have only just found out about it, you can apply for Enforcement Review on the grounds that you were unaware of the original fine. If your application is granted you will have the opportunity to deal with the fine as if you were aware of the original infringement notice. This includes reinstating your options to nominate, elect to go to court or submit a review.

  We must receive this application within 14 days of the date that you became aware of your fine.

  I have lost my licence for excessive speeding (25km/h over the limit) fine, but I did not know about this fine. What can I do?

  Fines for excessive speed are different from other fines, they're more serious. A conviction will be recorded 28 days from the Infringement Notice issue date.

  If you were not aware of the notice before the conviction took place, depending on the circumstances of the offence, you can make one of the following applications for an extension of time to the Magistrates' Court:

  Dispute the fine (Object to the notice)

  If you want to dispute the fine, you can make an application to the Magistrates' Court for an extension of time to object to the notice. If your extension of time application is granted by a magistrate, the infringement is cancelled, and you will be served with a charge and summons with a date to appear to in court.

  You were not the driver at the time

  If you were not the driver at the time of the offence, you can make an application to the Magistrates' Court for an extension of time to submit a nomination statement. If your extension of time application is granted by a magistrate, you will be provided more time to submit a nomination statement to Victoria Police.

  You must apply to the Magistrates' Court for an extension of time within 14 days of you becoming aware of the fine and be accompanied by an affidavit or a statutory declaration setting out why the extension is sought. The magistrate will not grant the application unless satisfied that you were not aware of the fine before the infringement notice took effect as a conviction.

• Nominating the responsible driver

  I wasn't driving at the time of the offence. Why can I no longer nominate? What can I do?

  If you need to nominate the responsible driver for your fine, do it early.

  Once the fine progresses to Notice of Final Demand stage, nominating another driver is not an option. You will therefore be liable for the fine and demerit points may be applied to your licence.

  You can learn more on the nominations page.

  I already paid my fine and now it is closed, but I wanted to nominate the responsible driver. What can I do?

  Fines should not be paid if you intend to nominate the responsible driver. This is stated in all infringement notices. Once you nominate, a new notice will be issued to the nominated driver for them to pay.

  If you have paid but need to nominate, you need to contact Fines Victoria to reopen your fine, nominate the fine and get a refund. You can contact Fines Victoria on (03) 9200 8111

  For regional callers 1300 369 819
  For international callers +613 9200 8111
  Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
  (except public holidays)

• Company fines of more than $3,000

  Why has my company received a traffic fine of more than $3,000?

  Companies are issued traffic fines with a body corporate infringement notice amount.

  As companies do not have a driver licence on which to apply demerit points, an authorised officer of the company must nominate the driver responsible. Nominating the responsible driver ensures that demerit points are applied to the driver's licence and they are held accountable for the offence. Enforcing demerit points results in safer roads.

  Provided you nominate the responsible driver before the fine reaches Notice of Final Demand stage, the fine will be reissued to the nominated person with an adjusted penalty amount.

  For more information, see Nominate a driver.

• What are my options?

  What options are relevant to me to deal with my fine?

  The options available to you depend on what stage in the fines lifecycle your fine is at.

  The notice you have received will indicate the stage of the lifecycle your fine is at. You can also find out about the stage of your fine by logging in to the fines website to view your fine detail.

  See the fines lifecycle flowchart (PDF download) to find out what options are available to you.

• I need help with my fines

  What can I do if I need help to manage my fines?

  If you need support or legal assistance you can contact Victoria Legal Aid or find your local community legal centre.

• Do fines expire?

  Does my fine ever expire?

  Once a fine is registered with Fines Victoria it does not expire and can be enforced at any time.

• I’ve been getting fines at my address but they aren’t addressed to anyone who lives here.

  I've been getting fines at my address but they aren't addressed to anyone who lives here.

  If you received a fine that does not belong to anyone residing at your address, you do not need to pay the fine and you will not be held liable for it.

  You can send the fine back marked with 'Return to Sender'. Where Fines Victoria is able to establish an updated address, records are amended accordingly.

  The law requires individuals to update their address with VicRoads within 14 days of a change of address.

• Fines issued to a person who has died

  A fine has been issued to a person who has since died. What should I do?

  Please send a copy of the death certificate (or Coroner's report if applicable) to us, along with the details of the fine(s).

  On receipt of the death certificate, we will close the fines registered with us, and take no further action to enforce them.

  If you need to speak to us, please note that information regarding the deceased person's matters can only be provided to the person listed as the next of kin on the death certificate or to the executor of the estate.

  How do I nominate an infringement that has been issued to a person who has died, because someone else is responsible for the offence?

  If you are the next of kin or executor for a deceased person, you can apply to Fines Victoria to nominate another person e.g. the person who was driving the deceased person's vehicle.

  To nominate another person, send us a certified copy of your authority to represent the deceased person (for example, a death certificate listing you as next of kin, or evidence that you are the executor of the deceased's estate) and a nomination statement signed by you.

  If you have an Infringement Notice or Penalty Reminder Notice with a Victoria Police logo, download the Nomination Statement, follow the steps to complete it and then post it to us.

  If you have an Infringement Notice or Penalty Reminder Notice with a Transport Safety Victoria logo, download the TSV Nomination Statement, follow the steps to complete it and then post it to us.

  If you don’t yet have a death certificate or Coroner’s report, you may write to us with as much information as you have.

• How can I be sure that speed cameras and red light cameras are accurate?

  I have received a fine for speeding. Can I have a copy of the camera test certificate?

  You can find a copy of the camera test certificate for fixed cameras on the Victorian Government's Cameras Save Lives website.

  How do fixed, mobile and point-to-point cameras work?

  Victoria's road safety camera system includes:

  1. fixed cameras (permanently positioned at approved locations)
  2. mobile cameras (devices that are rotated across approved mobile camera locations)
  3. point-to-point cameras

  You can find out more about these cameras on the Victorian Government's Cameras Save Lives website.

  How often are fixed/mobile/point-to-point road safety cameras tested?

  All Victorian fixed digital, mobile, point-to-point road safety cameras are tested annually by an independent testing officer in accordance with the Road Safety (General) Regulations 2009.

  You can find out more about the testing of cameras on the Victorian Government's Cameras Save Lives website.

  Can you explain the detection of red-light offences?

  Some fixed road safety cameras enforce red light offences only, while others detect both red light and speed.

  If a vehicle crosses over the stop line against a red traffic light and enters the intersection, this triggers the camera to take an image.

  The camera is designed to take 2 images of an offending vehicle that combine to prove that it:

  1. entered the intersection after the light turned red; and,
  2. continued through the intersection against the red light.

  The camera also captures the time elapsed between a traffic light turning red and the vehicle entering the intersection.

  If a light changes to red while you are already in the intersection, you will not be issued a fine (the camera is only activated by a vehicle driving over the stop line after the light has turned red).

  You can find out more on the Victorian Government's Cameras Save Lives website.

   

• My fine photo

  How do I view the photo of my traffic offence?

  To download a photo of a speeding or red light fine, go to View image and click 'Get Started'.

  Enter your obligation or infringement number and authenticate your details. Then click 'View' next to the fine and scroll down to the 'Download image (PDF)' link.

  A PDF file with details of your fine and photos will either display in your web browser or download to your computer, depending on how your web browser handles PDF files. If you don't see it in your browser window, look for it in your Downloads folder on your computer.

  Note: offence photos are only available for speeding offences captured by fixed and mobile road safety cameras, and for red-light offences captured by fixed road safety cameras.

  There are two vehicles in my fine photo. How do you know the person speeding was me?

  Before a speeding fine is issued, each offence is scrutinised thoroughly.

  Fixed road safety cameras can monitor multiple lanes of traffic with the use of sensors embedded into the road surface or radar technology.

  In addition, offences are reviewed by two qualified independent officers, who must agree that an offence has occurred for the matter to proceed. Finally, the fine is only issued once Victoria Police has assessed the matter and is satisfied that an offence has occurred.

  You can find out more about the speed verification process on the Victorian Government's Cameras Save Lives website.

  I have a speeding fine on the Hume Freeway or Peninsula Link. Why is there more than one time-stamp on my offence photo?

  Both the Hume and Peninsula Link camera systems enforce point-to-point (calculated average speed) and instantaneous speed (the speed as detected at the location of a camera).

  If you have more than one time-stamp on your offence photo, it is likely you were fined because your average speed between two cameras on the freeway was higher than the speed limit.

  The point-to-point cameras on the Hume Freeway and Peninsula Link determine vehicle speed by taking time-stamped, digital photographs of all vehicles and calculating the time taken to travel between one camera site and the next. The average speed is calculated by time-over-distance. If the average speed exceeds the speed limit, a fine is issued.

  The distance between two road safety camera sites is measured with accuracy, using licensed surveyor's survey certificates.

  I have a fine for driving through a red light. Why are the time-stamps the same?

  Red light offence photographs of alleged offences can have the same time stamps if the photographs are taken less than one second apart.

  In this instance, the first photograph is taken when a vehicle enters an intersection after the light has turned red. The second is taken when a vehicle reaches a designated point in the intersection. If the second photograph is triggered less than one second after the first, the two images can display the same time.

  Vehicles travelling faster through a red light are more likely to have the same time on the fine photo.

• Suggest a camera location

  How can I request for a road safety camera to be installed?

  If you would like to suggest a location for a fixed road safety camera, you can submit a Suggest a Camera Location online form to the Fixed Camera Site Selection Committee (Committee).

  The Committee is chaired by Victoria Police and has representatives from VicRoads and the Department of Justice and Community Safety.

  When considering camera requests, the Committee also considers whether mobile cameras may be used in the place of fixed cameras.

• I saw a camera flash but I was not speeding

  I saw a camera flash but I was not speeding. Did I get fined?

  If you see a road safety camera flash and you are certain you were not speeding or driving against a red light or red arrow, do not panic.

  There are a couple of reasons why the camera may have flashed:

  • it may be in a testing phase
  • it may have been capturing an offence in another lane.

  You can find out more on the Victorian Government's Cameras Save Lives website.

• I sold my car but I received a fine after the date I sold my car. What can I do?

  If you have sold your car, you and the buyer are required to provide information to VicRoads for the registration to be transferred successfully.

  You may be liable for any traffic offences that the buyer incurs if the registration is not transferred. If you as the seller receive traffic infringements in your name, you will need to submit a Nomination Statement stating that you are no longer the owner of the vehicle, including details of the buyer and proof that you transferred the registration to the buyer.

  If you would like further information about the transferring of registration, you may like to contact VicRoads.

• Bankruptcy

  What is bankruptcy?

  Bankruptcy is a legal process where a person is declared unable to pay their debts. When a person is declared bankrupt, a person (known as a trustee) is appointed to manage their bankruptcy. The law of bankruptcy is governed by the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth).

  How long is a person bankrupt for?

  A person is normally bankrupt for three years and one day.

  Which fines can the Director, Fines Victoria enforce?

  The Director can enforce:

  • registered infringement fines with an offence date after the person became bankrupt and that are at the enforcement and warrant stage of the Infringement Fines Lifecycle (for example, a person who was declared bankrupt on 25 March 2020 and received an infringement on 3 April 2020), and
  • fines or orders imposed by a court and that are at the enforcement and warrant stage of the Fines Victoria Court Fines Lifecycle (for example, court fines or enforcement hearing orders).

  The bankrupt person is responsible for these fines and retains the right to deal with them. If these fines are outstanding, the Director can enforce the fines including by applying sanctions (for example, driver and vehicle sanctions) or by applying for a warrant.

  Which fines cannot be enforced by the Director?

  The Director cannot enforce registered infringement fines with an offence date before the person became bankrupt and that are at the enforcement and warrant stage of the Infringement Fines Life Cycle (for example, a person who was declared bankrupt on 25 March 2020 and received a speeding fine on 3 April 2019).

  The Director cannot take steps to enforce these fines, however the bankrupt person retains the right to deal with them if they want to. The bankrupt should seek advice from a financial counsellor or a lawyer before making arrangements to pay fines that cannot be enforced by the Director.

  Which fines can enforcement agencies enforce?

  Enforcement agencies can enforce infringement fines that are not registered with the Director, such as by taking the person to court or taking other action. The bankrupt is responsible for these fines and retains the right to deal with them. These are fines at the infringement stage of the Infringement Fines Lifecycle.

  The bankrupt should contact the enforcement agency and advise them of their bankruptcy as soon as possible.

  Who can notify Fines Victoria that a person is bankrupt?

  The person (or their authorised representative), the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) or the bankrupt’s trustee in bankruptcy can notify Fines Victoria.

  What information should be given to Fines Victoria?

  The person making the notification must provide Fines Victoria with:

  • the bankrupt’s name and address
  • the bankrupt’s bankruptcy number
  • the date bankruptcy commenced
  • the bankrupt’s date of birth
  • the name and contact details of the trustee in bankruptcy.

  If this information is not provided, there could be some delays with processing the notification.

  What will Fines Victoria do when they receive a bankruptcy notification?

  Fines Victoria will:

  • identify the fines that are subject to the person’s bankruptcy, and
  • send a letter to the bankrupt person informing them of all the fines that will not be enforced by the Director (that is, registered infringement fines with an offence date before the person became bankrupt), and
  • suspend enforcement of the fines that are subject to the person’s bankruptcy so that they cannot be enforced during the bankruptcy period.

  When will these notifications be actioned?

  If all the bankruptcy information is provided, the notification will usually be actioned within three business days.

  Will enforcement action stop when Fines Victoria receive a bankruptcy notification?

  Yes, the fines (subject to bankruptcy) will not be enforced during the person's term of bankruptcy.

  Can enforcement agencies commence proceedings or collect a debt that is already registered with the Director?

  No, registered fines sit with the Director and cannot be enforced by the enforcement agency.

  Can enforcement agencies deregister a fine once it is registered with the Director?

  Enforcement agencies cannot deregister a fine, however they can ask the Director to refer the fine back to them. The Director will only refer a fine back to the enforcement agency if the Director considers it is appropriate to do so.

  Will the Director consider a debt agreement as an alternative to bankruptcy?

  The Director will consider any debt agreement provided by a person as an alternative to bankruptcy.

  If a person enters into a debt agreement and the Director or Fines Victoria is listed on the agreement, the Director will honour the terms of the debt agreement, provided that unpaid fines are treated substantially the same as any other unsecured creditor.

  If the debt agreement is subsequently terminated, enforcement action will continue for any unpaid fines.

  Will the Director consider a personal insolvency agreement as an alternative to bankruptcy?

  The Director will consider a personal insolvency agreement (PIA) under the Bankruptcy Act if it is accepted by a majority of creditors.

  If a person has a PIA (as described above) they will be treated similarly to a bankrupt. If the PIA is subsequently terminated, enforcement action will continue for any unpaid fines.

  Will the Director be taking steps to prove a fine debt?

  It is important to note that while bankruptcy may lead to certain infringement fines being unenforceable under the Fines Reform Act 2014 (Vic), the Director may seek to recover these fines by proving the debt under the Bankruptcy Act.

  It is not proposed that the Director would routinely seek to prove fine debts. There may however be cases where the Director considers it appropriate to do so.

  What will happen at the end of the person’s bankruptcy period?

  AFSA, the bankrupt or their representative are advised to notify the Director when the bankruptcy period ends so the fines can be written off. They should also provide supporting information so these notifications can be processed quickly.

  When the Director becomes aware that the person’s bankruptcy period has ended, infringement fines registered with the Director with an offence date before the person became bankrupt will no longer be enforceable.

  Can a bankrupt person still deal with their fines?

  Yes, a bankrupt person can still deal with their fines by:

  • paying in full
  • applying for a payment arrangement or time to pay order
  • submitting a nomination statement
  • applying for an internal review or enforcement review
  • applying for a work and development permit through a sponsor
  • applying under the family violence scheme.

  There may be some eligibility criteria. Visit Family Violence Scheme for more information on these options.

  Before taking any of the actions listed above, the bankrupt person may wish to consider whether it is likely that the Director or enforcement agency will enforce the fine, noting that:

  • infringement fines registered with the Director (with an offence date before the date of bankruptcy) will not be enforced during and after the person’s bankruptcy period.
  • court fines, infringement fines not registered with the Director and infringement fines registered with the Director (with an offence date after bankruptcy) will be enforced during and after the person’s bankruptcy period.

  Who can a bankrupt person contact for more information?

  You can access free independent advice from a financial counsellor, visit Financial Counselling Victoria or call 1800 007 007.

  To learn more about bankruptcy or to get financial advice and information, visit:

  • Money smart
  • Australian Financial Security Authority
  • Consumer action law centre
  • National debt helpline.

  For legal advice about specific circumstances, visit Federation of Community Legal Centres to find a local community legal centre or visit Consumer Action Law Centre for legal help.

  For general information on how bankruptcy operates under the Fines Reform Act, please call (03) 9200 8222 between 8am and 6pm weekdays, except public holidays.