This page provides an introduction to some of the agencies involved in the infringements process, and their roles and responsibilities.

Enforcement agencies  

The issuing, collection, review, enforcement, and disbursement of fines is spread across many different enforcement agencies.

A few examples of enforcement agencies are:

• Victoria Police
• Department of Transport and Planning
• Victorian Building Authority
• Local councils

For some enforcement agencies, including Victoria Police, Fines Victoria can accept fine payments or applications at any stage.

With other enforcement agencies, Fines Victoria will generally only get involved if the fine has not been paid on time and has reached Notice of Final Demand stage. Before this, you should deal with the enforcement agency that issued you the fine.

For example, if you have a:  

• public transport fine, or
• fine issued by a local council  

then Fines Victoria can only take payments or receive most application types if a Notice of Final Demand has been issued.

If you are not sure how to deal with your fine, always refer to the options printed on the fine or contact the agency that issued the fine to you.

Victorian courts 

When a fine is ordered by a court following a hearing for an offence, these fines are referred to Fines Victoria for collection and enforcement – unless the magistrate or judge decides otherwise.

Fines Victoria will manage your fine according to any terms the court ordered – for example by instalments or additional time to pay.  

If you have a fine issued by a court, through Fines Victoria you can:

• pay your fine
• apply for a payment extension, if eligible
• apply to pay in instalments, if eligible

Fines Victoria is not able to determine if you are eligible for a rehearing, but the court that issued your fine can.

Further information can be found on the Magistrates' Court of Victoria website and the County Court of Victoria website. You can also seek legal advice to help you understand your options. 

The Director, Fines Victoria

The Director, Fines Victoria (the Director) deals with the processing and enforcement of unpaid fines.

Where a person or company fails to pay or deal with their fines by the due date, the Director can apply sanctions to hold people to account.

Under the law, the Director has the power to:

• suspend or prevent you renewing your driver licence
• suspend or prevent you renewing your vehicle registration
• prevent you from transferring a vehicle registration out of your name
• make deductions from your bank account, wages or money owed to you
• charge and sell land that you own.

The Director can also ask the Magistrates' Court to issue an enforcement warrant if an infringement fine or court fine has not been dealt with by the due date of the Notice of Final Demand.

The Children's Court of Victoria

The Director, Fines Victoria, does not enforce unpaid fines issued to children. These are dealt with by the Children’s Court of Victoria.

More information on the role of the Children’s Court in relation to fines is available on its website.

The Sheriff of Victoria 

The Sheriff of Victoria (the Sheriff) is an officer of the Supreme Court of Victoria, responsible for actioning warrants in Victoria for civil and criminal matters.

If a fine remains unpaid and a warrant is issued against you, the Sheriff must enforce the warrant.

This includes warrants for:  

• unpaid infringement fines registered with Fines Victoria  
• unpaid fines imposed by a magistrate or judge following an appearance in court.  

Sheriff's officers have authority under the legislation to action warrants. They can visit your home or workplace or stop you at a roadblock to discuss your warrant.

You should not be afraid of sheriff's officers. They want to help you deal with your unpaid fines, and will treat you respectfully. Sheriff’s officers will explain the options available to you and help you understand what you need to do.

If it is necessary, sheriff's officers have the power to:

• come to your address and ask for payment (this is an official process called a ‘payment demand’)
• stop you at a police roadblock
• wheel clamp, detain or sell your vehicle
• search for and seize property to sell
• remove the number plates from your vehicle
• arrest you, so that you are brought before a magistrate or judge, or release you on a community work permit to undertake community work under certain conditions.

For more information, see Sheriffs in Victoria and What happens when the sheriff contacts you.