State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999


Queensland Crest
State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999
Queensland State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Current as at [Not applicable] Indicative reprint note This is an unofficial version of a reprint of this Act that incorporates all proposed amendments to the Act included in the Tow Truck and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018. This indicative reprint has been prepared for information only— it is not an authorised reprint of the Act . Some enacted but uncommenced amendments included in the State Penalties Enforcement Amendment Act 2017 No. 13 have also been incorporated in this indicative reprint. Detailed information about indicative reprints is available on the Information page of this website.
© State of Queensland 2018 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Not authorised —indicative only Queensland State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Contents Part 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 Part 2 7 8 9 10 10A 10B 10C 11 11A 11B 12 Part 3 Division 1 13 14 14A 15 16 Page Preliminary Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Act has limited application to children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Act binds State, Commonwealth and other States . . . . . . . . . . . 13 The State Penalties Enforcement Registry The State Penalties Enforcement Registry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Functions of SPER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 The SPER charter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Staff and contractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Service contractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Service subcontractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Delegation of prescribed functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Management of office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Identity cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Return of identity card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Protection from liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Infringement notices Service of infringement notices Service of infringement notices—generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Service of infringement notices for infringement notice offences involving vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Recovery of vehicle identification costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Infringement notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Effect of this part on prosecution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Contents Not authorised —indicative only Division 2 17 18 19 20 21 Division 3 22 23 25 26 27 Division 4 28 29 30 31 32 Part 3A 32A 32B 32C 32D 32E Part 3B 32F 32G 32H 32I 32J 32K 32L 32M 32N 32O Liability for infringement notice offences involving vehicles Liability for infringement notice offences involving vehicles . . . . 24 Effect of illegal user declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Effect of known user declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Effect of sold vehicle declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Effect of unknown user declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Obligations and options under infringement notices Ways alleged offender may respond to an infringement notice . 28 Application for early referral of fine to SPER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Alleged offender who pays can not be prosecuted . . . . . . . . . . . 29 When alleged offender can not elect to have offence decided by court 30 When infringement notice offence is to be decided by court . . . . 30 Withdrawal and re-issue of infringement notice Administering authority may withdraw infringement notice . . . . . 31 Cancellation of registration on withdrawal of infringement notice 32 Application to cancel infringement notice for mistake of fact . . . . 33 Effect of cancellation of infringement notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Proceedings after cancellation of infringement notice . . . . . . . . . 34 Payment plans Application to registrar for payment plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Offering payment plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Acceptance of payment plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Amending payment plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Cancelling payment plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Work and development orders Definitions for part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Work and development orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Eligibility for work and development order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 No work and development order for restitution or compensation 40 Application for work and development order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Eligibility assessment by approved sponsor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Decision on application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Unpaid work must be performed cumulatively . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Effect of this part on enforcement action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Variation of work and development order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Page 2
32P 32Q 32R 32S Part 4 Division 1 33 33A Division 1A 34 35 36 37 Division 1B 37A 37B 37C Division 1C 37D 37E 37F 37G Division 2 38 39 40 Division 3 41 51 51A Division 4 52 52A Division 5 State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Contents Withdrawal of work and development order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Revocation of work and development order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Satisfaction of SPER debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 External review of decisions under this part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Enforcement orders Preliminary What is an infringement notice default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 What is an unpaid court debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Registering unpaid amounts with SPER for collection Registering unpaid amounts with SPER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Lodgement fee for particular administering authorities . . . . . . . . 49 Effect of registration on collection and prosecution . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Amending matter registered with SPER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Early referral notices Serving early referral notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Ways person may respond to early referral notice . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Cancelling early referral notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Court debt payment notices Serving court debt payment notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Ways person may respond to court debt payment notice . . . . . . 51 Cancelling court debt payment notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Effect of appeal on court debt payment notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Enforcement orders Issue of enforcement order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Enforcement fee imposed for enforcement order . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Service of enforcement order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Obligations and options under enforcement order Ways enforcement debtor may respond to enforcement order . . 54 When infringement notice offence is to be decided by court . . . . 54 Court election or proceeding for offence cancels enforcement order 55 Default after enforcement order Default after time to pay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Working out period of imprisonment for arrest and imprisonment warrant 56 Effect of appeal, rehearing or reopening of proceedings on enforcement order Page 3 Not authorised —indicative only
State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Contents Not authorised —indicative only 54 54A 54B Division 6 55 56 56A 56B 57 57A 58 59 60 Part 5 Division 1 61 62 62A 62B 62C 62D Division 2 63 63A 64 65 66 67 68 68A 69 69A 70 71 Page 4 Effect of appeal on enforcement order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Effect of appeal on enforcement order for offender levy . . . . . . . 57 Effect of rehearing or reopening proceedings on enforcement order 58 Cancellation of enforcement orders relating to infringement notice defaults Definitions for division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Application for cancellation of all or part of enforcement order . . 59 Request for further information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Stay of enforcement action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Decision on application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Information sharing about cancellations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Appeal against refusal to cancel enforcement order . . . . . . . . . . 62 Effect of cancellation of enforcement order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Proceedings after the cancellation of enforcement order . . . . . . 64 Civil enforcement Preliminary Application of pt 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Part does not prevent issue of arrest and imprisonment warrant 66 Definition for part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Applying part to particular persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Enforcement fee imposed for defaults requiring enforcement action 66 Invitation to apply for payment plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Enforcement warrants Issue of enforcement warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Renewal of enforcement warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Registrar may cancel, suspend or vary enforcement warrant for seizure of property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Enforcement warrant imposing a charge on property . . . . . . . . . 70 Effect of warrant imposing charge on property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Order to set aside or restrain sale, etc. of charged property . . . . 71 Offence of dealing with charged or restrained property . . . . . . . 71 Offence of concealing, selling, transferring or otherwise dealing with property subject to seizure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Enforcement of enforcement warrant may be made conditional . 72 Particular matters about enforcement of enforcement warrant . . 74 Power of entry to enforce enforcement warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Search warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
72 73 73A 73B 73C 73D 73E 73F 73G 73H 73I 73J 73K 74 Division 3 75 76 77 78 Division 4 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Contents Powers under search warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Powers supporting seizure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Notice to enforcement debtor etc. if seizure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Enforcement officer may authorise tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Order of selling property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Payment by enforcement debtor before sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Storage before sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Nature of sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Sale at best price obtainable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Postponement of sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Accountability for, and distribution of, money received . . . . . . . . 82 Reserve price provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Return of enforcement warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Fine collection notices Issue of fine collection notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Issue of fine collection notice after enforcement warrant . . . . . . 84 Registrar may cancel, suspend or vary fine collection notices . . 85 Copy of notices under this division to be given to enforcement debtor 86 Provisions about fine collection notices redirecting earnings When registrar may issue fine collection notice for redirection of earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Two or more employers of 1 employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Duty of employer to make deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Working out amount to be deducted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Provisions for working out earnings for s 82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Additional duties of employers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Discharge of enforcement debtor’s liability to registrar and employer’s liability to enforcement debtor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Payment by trustees of deducted amounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Penalty for late payment to registrar of deducted amounts . . . . . 90 Penalty for failure to make deductions from earnings . . . . . . . . . 90 When late payment penalty may be waived . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Application of interest payable on judgment debt . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Penalty is alternative to prosecution for certain offences against part 92 Employers not to prejudice employees because of action under this part Page 5 Not authorised —indicative only
Not authorised —indicative only State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Contents 93 94 95 96 Division 5 97 98 99 Division 6 100 101 102 103 Division 6A 103A 103B 103C 103D Division 7 104 105 106 107 108 Division 7A Subdivision 1 108A 108B Subdivision 2 108C Subdivision 3 92 Employers not to disclose information etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Records to be kept by employers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Access to premises etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Application of amounts paid or credited if 2 or more debts due . 96 Provisions about fine collection notice for redirection of a debt When debt redirected under fine collection notice . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Payment to enforcement debtor despite redirection . . . . . . . . . . 97 Discharge of the third person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Provisions about regular redirection from a financial institution account Application of div 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Service of fine collection notice for regular redirection from a financial institution account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Financial institution to make payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Offence of intentionally defeating notice for regular redirection from a financial institution account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Provisions about direction to pay amount from financial institution account Application of division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Copy of fine collection notice to enforcement debtor . . . . . . . . . 100 Financial institution to make deduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Financial institution to make payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Suspension of driver licence Criteria for suspending driver licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Suspension of driver licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 General effect of suspension of driver licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Review of suspension of driver licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Effect of suspension of driver licence on vehicle insurance . . . . 103 Enforcement by vehicle immobilisation Criteria for vehicle immobilisation Criteria for vehicle immobilisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Types of vehicles that may be immobilised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Notice of intention to issue immobilisation warrant Registrar to serve notice of intention to issue immobilisation warrant 105 Immobilisation warrant and related matters Page 6
State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Contents Not authorised —indicative only 108D 108E 108F 108G 108H 108I 108J 108K 108L 108M 108N 108O 108P 108Q 108R 108S 108T 108U 108V 108W Subdivision 4 108X 108Y 108Z Division 8 110 Division 9 111 112 113 Division 10 114 Issue and service of immobilisation warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Registrar may cancel, suspend or vary immobilisation warrant . 106 Effect of immobilisation warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Who may enforce an immobilisation warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Where and when an immobilisation warrant may or may not be enforced 107 Additional powers under an immobilisation warrant . . . . . . . . . . 108 Entry to ask occupier for consent to enter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Entry with consent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Immobilisation search warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Powers under immobilisation search warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Immobilisation notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Immobilisation period and access to vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 When immobilising device may be removed before end of immobilisation period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Removal of immobilising device immediately after immobilisation period ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Direction by registrar to seize vehicle under enforcement warrant 113 Direction by registrar to re-enforce current immobilisation warrant 113 Return of immobilisation warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Notice of damage—immobilisation warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Compensation—immobilisation warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Effect of immobilisation on vehicle insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Offences Offences of concealing, selling, transferring or otherwise dealing with vehicle with particular intent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Offence of interfering with or removing immobilised vehicle . . . . 116 Offence of tampering with or removing immobilising device or immobilising notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Other enforcement options Registration of interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Order of satisfaction of fines etc. Order of satisfaction of fines for infringement notice offences . . 118 Order of satisfaction of other amounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Order of satisfaction if more than 1 enforcement order . . . . . . . . 119 General provisions Power of person serving fine collection notice or enforcing warrant to demand name and address etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Page 7
Not authorised —indicative only State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Contents 115 116 117 Part 6 119 119A 120 121 Part 8 131 132 133 134 Part 8A Division 1 134A Division 2 134B 134C 134D 134E 134F 134G Division 3 134H 134I 134J Division 4 134K 134L 134M Part 9 Division 2 147 Effect of particular proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Offence of obstructing enforcement officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Offence of defacing or removing seizure tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Imprisonment Enforcement by imprisonment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Enforcement fee imposed for defaults requiring arrest and imprisonment warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Satisfaction of fine by imprisonment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Order of satisfaction of fines if enforcement debtor imprisoned . 125 Reciprocal enforcement of fines Definitions for pt 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Declaration of reciprocating court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Enforcement of Queensland fine by reciprocating court . . . . . . . 126 Enforcement of fine imposed by reciprocating court . . . . . . . . . . 127 Information sharing Preliminary Definitions for part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Information collection Information from police commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Registrar may require person to give information . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Registrar may require attendance by persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Power to record giving of information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Registrar may require translation or conversion of information . . 132 False or misleading information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 Information protection Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information . . . . . . . . . . 133 Non-disclosure of particular information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 Limited use of self-incriminating information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 Information sharing Information-sharing arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Disclosure of confidential information by registrar . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Registrar may advise police commissioner about particular warrants 138 Miscellaneous Other enforcement related provisions Effect of notices, orders and warrants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 Page 8
148 149 149A 150 150A 150AA 150AB 150B 151 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 159A Division 3 160 161 162 163 165 Part 10 Division 1 167 168 169 170 171 172 Division 2 173 174 174A Division 3 State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Contents Electronic transmission of particular documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 Enforcement costs and their allocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 References to amounts otherwise being discharged . . . . . . . . . 140 Dishonoured cheques etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 Registrar may write off unpaid fine or other amount . . . . . . . . . . 141 Registrar may waive or return fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 Redirecting amounts to unpaid SPER debts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 Registrar may arrange for use of information system . . . . . . . . . 144 Register . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 No fees payable for registration under other Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Non-reviewable decision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Responsibility for acts or omissions of representatives . . . . . . . . 146 Evidentiary provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 Service of document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Proceedings for offences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Registrar may communicate with enforcement debtors by SMS . 151 General Delegation by administering authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Delegation by registrar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Approval of forms by administering authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Approval of other forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Regulation-making power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Transitional, validating and declaratory provisions Transitional provisions for Act No. 70 of 1999 Amnesty period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Saving of infringement notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Saving of enforcement orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Issue of infringement notices by administering authority . . . . . . . 156 Existing warrant of commitment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 Existing fine option order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Validating and declaratory provisions Infringement notice for Motor Accident Insurance Act 1994 . . . . 157 Infringement notice for a corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 Particular orders made under Industrial Relations Act 2016 . . . . 158 Transitional provisions for State Penalties Enforcement and Other Page 9 Not authorised —indicative only
Not authorised —indicative only State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Contents 175 176 177 178 179 Division 6 182 Division 7 183 183A 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 Division 8 195 Schedule 2 Legislation Amendment Act 2007 Definition for div 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Transitional provision about management of office . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Transitional provision for extension of time to pay an amount stated in an enforcement order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 Transitional provision for cancellation of enforcement order . . . . 160 Transitional provision for good behaviour order . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Transitional provision for Civil and Criminal Jurisdiction Reform and Modernisation Amendment Act 2010 Effect of provision disqualifying person from holding or obtaining driver licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Transitional provisions for State Penalties Enforcement Amendment Act 2017 Definitions for division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Department (corrective services) is approved sponsor . . . . . . . . 162 Other approved sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Conversion of fine option orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Conversion of applications for fine option orders . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Continuation of good behaviour orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Application to pay fine by instalments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Continued payment under an instalment payment notice . . . . . . 166 Effect of existing enforcement documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Effect of existing default certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Continuation of particular applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Continuation of particular certificate evidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Transitional regulation-making power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 Transitional provision for Tow Truck and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2018 Application of Act to particular 17 year old children . . . . . . . . . . 169 Dictionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Page 10
Not authorised —indicative only State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 1 Preliminary [s 1] State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 An Act about the issue and enforcement of infringement notices, the enforcement of court ordered fines and certain court ordered debts, and for other purposes Part 1 Preliminary 1 Short title This Act may be cited as the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 . Editor's notes— Uncommenced amendments to the following provisions have been included in this indicative reprint— sections 14A, 15, 22–24, 26–28, 30, 38–39, 41, 42, 51–52, 54B, 61, 62A–62D, 63, 63A, 73D, 75, 105–107, 108F, 108H, 110, 113, 119, 119A, 150B, 151, 153, 155, 157, 188–192 parts 3A, 4 and 9 sch 2. See 2017 Act No. 13 ss 11, 12, 14–16, 18–19, 20(2), 22–23, 25, 26(1)– (2), 27, 29(1)–(2), 30 (to the extent it om s 42), 31–33, 35–41, 43, 44(3), 49–51, 55(1), 64–65, 69–70, 75, 81(2)–(3), 82(1), 83(2), (4), 88 (to the extent it ins ss 188, 189, 190, 191, 192), 89(2) (to the extent it oms defs civil enforcement fee, default certificate, enforcement debtor, instalment payment notice, registration fee, threshold amount ), (4) (to the extent it ins defs court debt payment notice, decision maker, early referral, early referral notice enforceable amount (example), enforcement debtor, enforcement fee, infringement notice default, payment plan, relevant offence, unpaid court debt ). Current as at [Not applicable] Page 11
State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 1 Preliminary [s 2] 2 Commencement This Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation. Not authorised —indicative only 3 Definitions The dictionary in schedule 2 defines particular words used in this Act. 4 Objects The objects of this Act include— (a) maintaining the integrity of fines as a viable sentencing or punitive option for offenders; and (b) maintaining confidence in the justice system by enhancing the way fines and other money penalties may be enforced; and (c) reducing the cost to the State of enforcing fines and other money penalties. 5 Act has limited application to children (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), this Act does not apply to a child other than to the extent it allows a child to pay a fine stated in an infringement notice for an offence in full or by instalments to an administering authority instead of being prosecuted for the offence. (2) If a child aged at least 17 years is served with an infringement notice for a transport demerit points offence, this Act applies to the child in relation to the offence in the same way it applies to an adult. (3) An enforcement order, fine collection notice or warrant may not be issued under this Act against a child except as allowed under subsection (2). (4) A reference in this Act to a Magistrates Court includes, in relation to a matter involving a child, a reference to the Childrens Court. Page 12 Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 2 The State Penalties Enforcement Registry [s 6] (5) In this section— transport demerit points offence means an offence for which a number of demerit points may be allocated against the offender’s traffic history under a regulation under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995. 6 Act binds State, Commonwealth and other States (1) This Act binds the State and, as far as the legislative authority of the Parliament permits, the Commonwealth and the other States. (2) However, an entity mentioned in subsection (1) can not be prosecuted for an offence against this Act. Part 2 The State Penalties Enforcement Registry 7 The State Penalties Enforcement Registry A State Penalties Enforcement Registry ( SPER ) is established. 8 Functions of SPER (1) SPER has the functions conferred or imposed on it under this or another Act. (2) In particular, SPER has the following functions— (a) collecting amounts payable to SPER under this or another Act; (b) administering the making of enforcement orders; (c) taking enforcement action under this Act. (3) The functions must be performed in accordance with the SPER charter. Current as at [Not applicable] Page 13
Not authorised —indicative only State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 2 The State Penalties Enforcement Registry [s 9] 9 The SPER charter The SPER charter includes the following— (a) maximising the collection, for victims of offences, of amounts ordered to be paid under the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 by way of restitution or compensation; (b) maximising the amount of fines and other money penalties paid before enforcement action is taken; (c) promoting a philosophy that non-monetary satisfaction of SPER debts is for the needy in the community and not an alternative to payment of a fine for those who can afford to pay the fine; (d) reducing the use of imprisonment for fine default by encouraging the use of other enforcement mechanisms; (e) promoting public education about the obligations of offenders and the consequences of not satisfying the obligations. 10 Staff and contractors (1) There is to be a registrar of SPER. (2) The registrar and other staff of the registry are to be employed under the Public Service Act 2008 . (3) Also, for the administration and enforcement of this Act, the registrar may engage under a contract— (a) debt collectors as enforcement officers; and (b) other persons for other purposes. (4) Persons engaged under subsection (3) are engaged under this Act and not the Public Service Act 2008 . Maximum penalty—40 penalty units. Page 14 Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 2 The State Penalties Enforcement Registry [s 10A] 10A Service contractors (1) This section applies if, under section 10(3)(b), the registrar engages an entity (the service contractor ) under a contract (the service contract ) to provide services to assist the registrar in the administration and enforcement of this Act. (2) The service contract may— (a) state the services (each, an authorised service ) the service contractor is required to provide; and (b) impose a condition on the provision of an authorised service by the service contractor; and Example for paragraph (b)— a condition requiring the service contractor to obtain the registrar’s approval before providing a particular authorised service (c) include a delegation by the registrar under section 10C(1) or (3); and (d) authorise the service contractor to subcontract the provision of an authorised service; and (e) impose a condition on the service contractor’s authority to subcontract. Example for paragraph (e)— a condition requiring the service contractor to subcontract only with subcontractors approved by the registrar (3) When providing an authorised service in accordance with the service contract, the service contractor may— (a) use the name of SPER; and (b) do anything necessary for, or incidental to, the provision of the authorised service. (4) In the performance of an authorised service by the service contractor in accordance with the service contract— (a) laws applying to the registrar, other than a law prescribed by regulation, apply to the service contractor as if the service contractor were the registrar; and Current as at [Not applicable] Page 15
Not authorised —indicative only State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 2 The State Penalties Enforcement Registry [s 10B] (b) laws applying to SPER, other than a law prescribed by regulation, apply to the service contractor as if the service contractor were SPER. (5) Anything done— (a) by the service contractor in accordance with the service contract; or (b) in relation to the service contractor in relation to an authorised service; is taken to have been done by or in relation to the registrar or SPER, as the case requires. (6) However, the engagement of the service contractor under the service contract does not relieve the registrar of the registrar’s obligations in relation to the proper administration and enforcement of this Act. 10B Service subcontractors (1) This section applies if, in accordance with a service contract, the service contractor subcontracts with another entity (the service subcontractor ) for the provision of an authorised service. (2) The contract (the service subcontract ) between the service contractor and the service subcontractor must comply with any condition imposed by the service contract in relation to subcontracting an authorised service. (3) The service subcontract— (a) must state the authorised service the service subcontractor is required to provide; and (b) may impose a condition on the service subcontractor’s provision of the authorised service. (4) If the service contract includes a delegation under section 10C(1), the service subcontract may include a delegation of the prescribed function to the service subcontractor that complies with the delegation in the service contract. Page 16 Current as at [Not applicable]
State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 2 The State Penalties Enforcement Registry [s 10B] Not authorised —indicative only (5) If the service contract includes a delegation under section 10C(3), the service subcontract may include a subdelegation of the prescribed function to the service subcontractor that complies with the delegation in the service contract. (6) When providing an authorised service in accordance with the service subcontract, the service subcontractor may— (a) use the name of SPER; and (b) do anything necessary for, or incidental to, the provision of the authorised service. (7) In the performance of an authorised service by the service subcontractor in accordance with the service subcontract— (a) laws applying to the registrar, other than a law prescribed by regulation, apply to the service subcontractor as if the service subcontractor were the registrar; and (b) laws applying to SPER, other than a law prescribed by regulation, apply to the service subcontractor as if the service subcontractor were SPER. (8) Anything done— (a) by the service subcontractor in compliance with the service subcontract; or (b) in relation to the service subcontractor in relation to an authorised service; is taken to have been done by or in relation to the registrar or SPER, as the case requires. (9) However, the engagement of the service subcontractor under the service subcontract does not relieve— (a) the registrar of the registrar’s obligations in relation to the proper administration and enforcement of this Act; or (b) the service contractor of the service contractor’s obligations under the service contract. Current as at [Not applicable] Page 17
State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 2 The State Penalties Enforcement Registry [s 10C] (10) In this section— prescribed function see section 10C(6). Not authorised —indicative only 10C Delegation of prescribed functions (1) The registrar may delegate the registrar’s power to delegate a prescribed function to a service contractor. Note— For the registrar’s power to delegate, see section 161. (2) A delegation under subsection (1) can not permit the subdelegation of the delegated power. (3) Also, the registrar may delegate a prescribed function to a service contractor. (4) A delegation under subsection (3) may permit the subdelegation of the prescribed function by the service contractor. (5) However, the service contractor must not delegate or subdelegate a prescribed function to anyone other than— (a) an appropriately qualified agent, employee or executive officer of the service contractor; or (b) an appropriately qualified subcontractor engaged by the service contractor; or (c) an appropriately qualified agent, employee or executive officer of a service subcontractor mentioned in paragraph (b). (6) In this section— prescribed function means a function or power of the registrar, or of SPER, under this Act that is prescribed by regulation for this section. 11 Management of office (1) The registrar may make or issue an enforcement order, fine collection notice or warrant under this Act. Page 18 Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 2 The State Penalties Enforcement Registry [s 11A] (2) The registrar has, for making or issuing an order or warrant under this Act, the same immunities and protection as officers of a court. (3) Anything done by the registrar in the name of or for SPER is taken to have been done by SPER. 11A Identity cards (1) The registrar must issue an identity card to each enforcement officer. (2) The identity card must— (a) contain a recent photograph of the enforcement officer; and (b) contain a copy of the enforcement officer’s signature; and (c) identify the person as an enforcement officer appointed under this Act; and (d) state an expiry date for the card. (3) This section does not prevent the issue of a single identity card to a person for this Act and other purposes. 11B Return of identity card If the office of a person as an enforcement officer ends, the person must return the person’s identity card to the registrar within 21 days after the office ends unless the person has a reasonable excuse. Maximum penalty—40 penalty units. 12 Protection from liability (1) An official does not incur civil liability for an act done, or omission made, honestly and without negligence, when acting as an official. Current as at [Not applicable] Page 19
Not authorised —indicative only State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 3 Infringement notices [s 13] (2) If subsection (1) prevents a civil liability attaching to an official, liability attaches instead to the State. (3) In this section— official means— (a) the registrar; or (b) another member of the staff of SPER; or (c) an enforcement officer. Part 3 Infringement notices Division 1 Service of infringement notices 13 Service of infringement notices—generally (1) If an authorised person reasonably believes a person has committed an infringement notice offence, the authorised person may serve an infringement notice on the person for the offence. (2) If the infringement notice offence involves a vehicle, the infringement notice may be served under section 14. (3) Section 14 does not limit the ways an infringement notice may be served on a person. (4) An infringement notice for an offence must not be served on a person after the end of the period within which an administering authority may start a prosecution for the offence and, if served, must be withdrawn. (5) Section 28(2) to (4) applies to the withdrawal of an infringement notice under subsection (4). Page 20 Current as at [Not applicable]
State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 3 Infringement notices [s 14] Not authorised —indicative only 14 Service of infringement notices for infringement notice offences involving vehicles (1) An infringement notice for an infringement notice offence involving a vehicle may be served— (a) on the owner of the vehicle; or (b) on the person named in a known user declaration as the person who was in charge of the vehicle at the relevant time; or (c) on the person named in a sold vehicle declaration as the person to whom the vehicle had been sold or otherwise disposed of before the relevant time. (2) If the infringement notice is to be served by post, the notice may be addressed to the person— (a) for the owner of the vehicle—at the address of the owner in the register of vehicles kept under a registration Act; or (b) for the person named in a known user declaration—at the person’s address stated in the declaration or another address for the person in the register of vehicles kept under a registration Act; or (c) for the person named in a sold vehicle declaration—at the person’s address stated in the declaration or another address for the person in the register of vehicles kept under a registration Act. (3) Also, the infringement notice may be served by securely placing or attaching the notice, addressed to the owner, without further description, on or to the vehicle in a conspicuous position. (4) If the infringement notice is served under subsection (3), it is taken to have been served on the owner on the day it is placed on or attached to the vehicle. (5) A person must not interfere with an infringement notice placed on or attached to a vehicle unless the person is the owner or the person in charge of the vehicle at the relevant time. Current as at [Not applicable] Page 21
Not authorised —indicative only State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 3 Infringement notices [s 14A] Maximum penalty for subsection (5)—40 penalty units. 14A Recovery of vehicle identification costs (1) This section applies if, in relation to an infringement notice for an infringement notice offence involving a vehicle, an administering authority reasonably incurs a cost in establishing ownership of the vehicle (a verification cost ). (2) The fine for the offence is increased by the amount of the verification cost. 15 Infringement notices (1) An infringement notice must be in the form approved by the administering authority. (2) The notice must state the following— (a) a unique number for the notice; (b) the date of the notice; (c) in relation to the alleged offender, unless the notice is served under section 14(3)— (i) the alleged offender’s full name, or surname and any initial, and address; or (ii) the particulars that are, under a regulation, identifying particulars for the alleged offender; (d) in relation to the offence, particulars that are enough to show clearly the nature of the offence, including the following— (i) if the offence is one prescribed under a regulation for this paragraph—the identifying particulars prescribed under the regulation for the offence; (ii) if the offence took place over a period and did not involve a vehicle—the period over which the offence was committed; Page 22 Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 3 Infringement notices [s 16] (iii) the place the offence was committed and, subject to subparagraph (ii), the time and date of the offence; (iv) if the offence involves a vehicle—the identifying particulars prescribed under a regulation for the vehicle; (v) if the offence involves an animal—the identifying particulars prescribed under a regulation for the animal; (e) the fine for the offence and how and where the fine may be paid; (f) the ways the alleged offender may respond to the notice under section 22; (g) that the notice may be withdrawn at any time before the fine is satisfied in full; (h) if the offence involves a vehicle, the general effect of section 17; (i) if the amount of the fine is increased under section 14A because the administering authority incurred a verification cost—the amount of the verification cost; (j) that if the alleged offender defaults— (i) the fine may be registered with SPER as an infringement notice default; and (ii) additional fees may be payable; and (iii) enforcement action may be taken to recover the amount of the fine. 16 Effect of this part on prosecution (1) The fact that an infringement notice has been, or could be, served on a person for an offence, does not affect the starting or continuation of a proceeding against the person or anyone else in a court for the offence. (2) This part does not— Current as at [Not applicable] Page 23
State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 3 Infringement notices [s 17] (a) require the serving of an infringement notice on a person for an offence, as opposed to proceeding against the person in another way; or (b) limit or otherwise affect the penalty that may be imposed by a court for an offence. Not authorised —indicative only Division 2 Liability for infringement notice offences involving vehicles 17 Liability for infringement notice offences involving vehicles (1) If— (a) an infringement notice offence involving a vehicle happens; and (b) an infringement notice for the offence is served on the person who is the owner of the vehicle at the time of the offence; the owner is taken to have committed the offence even though the actual offender may have been someone else. (2) If the actual offender is someone else, subsection (1) does not affect the liability of the actual offender, but— (a) the owner and the actual offender can not both be punished for the offence; and (b) if a fine is paid or a penalty is imposed on one of them for the offence, a further penalty must not be imposed on or recovered from the other person for the offence. (3) However, the owner must not be taken under subsection (1) to have committed the offence if, within 28 days after the date of an infringement notice or service of a summons for the offence, the owner makes and gives to the administering authority an illegal user declaration, a known or unknown user declaration or a sold vehicle declaration for the vehicle for the offence. Page 24 Current as at [Not applicable]
State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 3 Infringement notices [s 18] (4) The declaration must be made by— (a) if the owner is an individual—the owner; or (b) if the owner is a corporation—an executive officer of the corporation or the responsible operator. Not authorised —indicative only 18 Effect of illegal user declaration (1) This section applies if— (a) an infringement notice offence involving a vehicle happens; and (b) an infringement notice for the offence is served on the person who is the owner of the vehicle at the relevant time; and (c) the person makes and gives to the administering authority an illegal user declaration for the vehicle. (2) In a proceeding for the offence against the owner, a court must not find the owner guilty of the offence if it is satisfied, whether on the statements contained in the declaration or otherwise, the vehicle was stolen or illegally taken at the relevant time. 19 Effect of known user declaration (1) This section applies if— (a) an infringement notice offence involving a vehicle happens; and (b) an infringement notice for the offence is served on the person who is the owner of the vehicle at the relevant time; and (c) the person makes and gives to the administering authority a known user declaration for the vehicle. (2) This section and section 17 apply as if the person named in the declaration as the person in charge of the vehicle at the relevant time (the user ) were the owner of the vehicle at that time. Current as at [Not applicable] Page 25
Not authorised —indicative only State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Part 3 Infringement notices [s 20] (3) A proceeding for the offence may be started against the user only if a copy of the declaration has been served on the user. (4) In a proceeding for the offence against the user, the declaration is evidence that the user was in charge of