Fines

Information about dealing with a fine issued in NSW.

  • This topic covers

    This topic covers

    • Paying a fine
    • ​​Applying for a review of a fine
    • Applying to have your fine heard in court
    • Requesting a review of an overdue fine notice (previously called annulling an enforcement order)
    • Payment arrangements
    • Work and Development Orders
    • Requesting a fine reduction
    • Enforcement of fines by Revenue NSW

    If a fine or offence is being heard in the Local Court, see the Crime topic.

    The information in this topic does not apply to fines issued by Sydney Airport or by private car parks. For information about private car park fines, see the Private car parks debts topic.

If you haven't paid the fine

Time limitAction
21 days

To deal with a fine, including:

  • paying the fine (either in part payments or in full)
  • naming the driver
  • asking for a review, or
  • asking for the matter to be heard by the Local Court.

If a fine notice is unpaid by the due date, or if no due date, 21 days from the date a fine notice is served on you, Revenue NSW will serve you with a fine reminder notice.

28 days

To deal with a fine reminder notice, including:

  • paying the fine (either in part payments or in full)
  • naming the driver
  • asking for a review, or
  • asking for the matter to be heard by the Local Court.
28 days from the review decisionTo ask for the matter to be heard by the Local Court.
28 daysTo pay an overdue fine before Revenue NSW will take enforcement action.
28 daysAfter Revenue NSW reject an application to withdraw an overdue fine to apply to the Local Court to cancel the overdue fine.

If you paid the fine in part or in full

Time limitAction
90 days from the date of serviceTo name the driver (where no fine reminder notice has been issued).
60 days from the date of serviceTo apply for a review (where no fine reminder notice has been issued).
90 days from the date of serviceTo ask for the matter to be heard by the Local Court, if you paid the fine in full before a fine notice reminder was issued.
By the due date

To:

  • pay the rest of your fine
  • ask for the matter to be heard by the Local Court (where a fine reminder notice has been issued).

Organisations

OrganisationResponsibilities
Local Court of NSW

If you apply to have your fine heard in court, your case will be heard in the Local Court of NSW.

The Court may have the power to increase your penalty.

Revenue NSWThe NSW authority responsible for overdue fines and enforcement of fines.  
Transport for NSWThe NSW authority responsible for the licensing of drivers and registration of vehicles.

Legislation

AuthorityCovers
Fines Act 1996 (NSW) Fines and overdue fines.
Road Rules 2014Road rule offences, including speeding offences.
Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) Licensing, registration, offences, saf​ety and traffic management.
State Debt Recovery Act 2018 (NSW)Enforcement of fines and debts.

Common termDefinition
Conditional Release Order (CRO)

A CRO without a conviction is commonly referred to as a section 10.

A CRO has standard conditions that the offender must not commit any offence and appear before the court if called to do so during the term of the order. Additional conditions can also be imposed by the Court.

Court attendance notice (CAN)A notice that tells you the date and time that you have to go to court to respond to a charge.
Demerit pointsPenalty points that are added to your licence when you commit certain driving offences.
FineA penalty you have to pay for breaking a law, for example, a driving offence, or littering. Fines are also sometimes referred to as penalty notices or infringement notices. Fines are generally issued from government authorities, for example, the police, Local Council, or the Court.
​Fine Reduction​In some cases, people on government benefits may be able to apply for a 50% reduction of their fine. This does not include fines given by courts, fines given to a body corporate, jury duty related or voting related fines.
Fine reminder noticeA reminder sent to you 21 days after the fine notice, telling you your fine is still unpaid and giving you a further 28 days to pay it, ask for a review or ask for the matter to be decided by the Local Court.
Licence suspensionAn order that bans you from driving for a period of time.
​Notice of Penalty​A document sent to the Defendant by the Court after the case. It tells the Defendant what penalty was imposed by the Court and provides payment options.
Overdue fineIssued by Revenue NSW after you've failed to pay your fine by the due date on your fine notice. When an overdue fine is issued, a fee is added to the unpaid fine. The overdue fine gives you 28 days to pay in full before Revenue NSW will take further action against you.
Request for review

An application to Revenue NSW to cancel your overdue fine notice (previously called an enforcement order) and have your case heard at court.

It's also an application you can make to the court if you missed your court date.

Section 10An order under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), where the Court finds a person guilty of an offence but decides not to record a conviction. It can also be referred to as a Conditional Release Order without a conviction.
Work and Development Order

An order you can apply for instead of paying a fine. A Work and Development Order can be made by Revenue NSW directing you to:

  • perform unpaid work
  • undergo medical or mental health treatment
  • undertake an educational, vocational or life skills course
  • undergo drug or alcohol treatment
  • undertake a mentoring program by an approved organisation (if you're under 25 years of age).

OrganisationFee
Revenue NSWYou have to pay enforcement costs if your fine reminder notice remains unpaid by the due date and becomes an overdue fine.
NSW Sheriff's Office

A fee will be added to your overdue fine if enforcement action is taken against you for an unpaid overdue fine, for example, the Sheriff seizing your personal property, or a garnishee on your bank account or wage.

In some circumstances you can apply for these costs to be waived, postponed or refunded.

OrganisationForms
Local Court of NSW

Forms

  • Written Notice of Pleading
  • Subpoena to Give Evidence​
  • Application for Time to Pay Court Fines
  • Annulment Application
Uniform Civil Procedure Rules Civil Forms

Forms

  • Notice of Motion
  • Affidavit
Revenue NSWmyPenalty
My problem is aboutForms - Fines

OrganisationTypeCosts
NSW Local CourtLegal costs

If you are convicted of the offence in the Local Court or given a conditional release order without conviction, you may have to pay the prosecutions costs. Professional costs are not usually ordered in most criminal and traffic matters.

If the matter is prosecuted by police, costs orders are extremely rare.

If the matter is prosecuted by Transport for NSW (TfNSW), TfNSW may seek costs. TfNSW don't usually seek costs in licence appeals.

Other prosecuting bodies such as Local Councils (for example, if you were disputing a council parking fine) or the RSPCA may seek costs. 

For more information about costs in court proceedings, including claiming your lawyer's costs if you are successful defending an offence at court, see the Crime topic.

Court Costs Levy

If you are convicted of an offence, the Court will order that you pay the Court Costs Levy unless you:

  • ​​get a section 10 for a matter in the NSW Drug Court
  • get a section 10 dismissal or not convicted for an offence that does not have a gaol sentence
  • are convicted in the NSW Children's Court
  • receive a gaol sentence (other than a suspended sentence).

If you are under 18, the Court may direct that you don't have to pay the Court Cost Levy. 

Court costs are separate to any fine you receive, and the Victims Support Levy. If you have multiple charges, you will have to pay court costs for each offence.

For more information, see Paying fines and judgement amounts on the Local Court of NSW website. 

Victims Support Levy

If you are convicted of an offence in NSW, you must pay a victims support levy, except where your offence relates to:

  • parking
  • offensive language
  • travelling on public transport without paying the fare or without a ticket
  • engaging in offensive conduct.
My problem is aboutCosts in fine cases 
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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about fines.

Last updated: December 2023