Scenario 7: Not being able to pay a fine

‹Previous Scenario English | 中文 | Tiếng Việt | Español Next Scenario›

Do not ignore fines. Act quickly! You can get a fine for a range of driving offences, including parking offences, speeding, not wearing a seat belt, or not displaying your probationary licence (P plate). If you do not deal with the fine, it can quickly increase in cost. You could also be sent to court.

Your options depend on your situation. If you are under 18 or are an asylum seeker, or if the reason you got a fine was because you have a disability, mental illness, a serious addiction to drugs or alcohol, or experiencing homelessness or family violence, then call your local Community Legal Centre.

To understand more about what to do when you get a fine in Victoria, go to FineFixer.

It's up to the agency to decide if they will give you a payment extension. If you have a special reason why you can't pay by the due date, you should tell them about it.

Learn more about issues like this

Learn more about the people and places that can help

Free Legal Help

Lawyers are here to help you. They can give you clear directions about what to do next based on what you want, and they can do things for you like talk to other people, speak in court and draft documents. If you speak to a lawyer, they cannot tell anyone what you have said – including migration authorities, police and family. What you tell them won’t affect your visa, work or education.

Community Legal Centres (CLCs)

Community Legal Centres (CLCs) are independent community organisations that provide free and confidential legal services to the public. They help people who are ineligible for legal aid and cannot afford a private lawyer.

They can provide free legal information, advice and in some cases ongoing assistance to you as an international student.

Youthlaw

If you are under 25 years old and need help with a train or tram fine, Youthlaw may provide you with free and confidential legal advice on your rights and options.

Other Services

Some services can provide you with support or information. This might include general information about your options. They are a good place to start when you are having trouble and want to find out more about what you can do.

Victoria Police

If you or someone around you is unsafe, if there is a serious emergency, or if someone has committed a crime, you can contact the police for help.