The Fines Enforcement Registry is offering some leeway to debtors impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those who owe money in unpaid fines but can demonstrate financial hardship due to COVID-19 are urged to contact the Registry.
The Registry will consider a payment plan over a longer period of time, with lower than usual minimum payments.
The contact numbers are 1300 650 235 or 9235 0235 for mobiles or via email at fines@justice.wa.gov.au
More fines information is also available at www.courts.justice.wa.gov.au
There are serious consequences for not paying fines and infringements in WA, including driver's licence suspension, vehicle immobilisation, vehicle licence cancellation and seizure and sale of your property. In some cases you may even be imprisoned.
To pay you will need at least two of the following options as well as your surname or organisation name:
- case number
- charge number
- infringement number
- customer reference number (CRN) - if you do not know your CRN you can search your CRN online below.
- date of birth
Customer Reference Number
Show morePayment options
Show moreThere are a range of convenient options to choose from to pay your fine or infringement:
- Credit card - Make an online credit card payment using your CRN with a Visa or MasterCard between $10 to $10,000. If approved, your payment will be processed on the Fines Enforcement Registry's database within one working day. Payments made after 5.00 pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) will be processed within 2 business days. If you have any other outstanding court fines or infringements that are not included in a Time-to-Pay arrangement, or you have any other outstanding amounts, your licence may still be subject to a fine suspension. It is your responsibility to check this before driving.
- BPAY - Payments can be made using BPAY through your bank or financial institution. The biller code for the Fines Enforcement Registry is 48249.
- Phone - You can pay your fines over the phone by calling 1300 276 468, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and entering your credit card details (MasterCard or Visa) along with your CRN. Payments made after 5.00 pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) will be processed the following working day.
- In person – Pay in person at any Magistrates Court in Western Australia.
- Direct debit – Arrange direct debit payments from your bank account by completing a Direct Debit Request Form (available from your nearest court or contact Fines Enforcement Registry to get a mailed copy) and posting to Fines Enforcement Registry, Department of Justice, GPO Box X2293, PERTH WA 6847. Please note this does not automatically lift a fine suspension.
- Centrepay - Allow Centrelink to make deductions from your fortnightly benefit to pay off your outstanding fines. You can pay off your outstanding fines at a minimum of $25 per fortnight. Complete a Centrelink Centrepay Deductions form (available from your nearest court or contact Fines Enforcement Registry to get a mailed copy) and return by post to Fines Enforcement Registry, Department of Justice, GPO Box X2293, PERTH WA 6847 or email to fercentrepay@justice.wa.gov.au. Please note this does not automatically lift a fine suspension.
- By mail - Post a cheque or money order to the Fines Enforcement Registry, Department of Justice, GPO Box X2293, PERTH WA 6847.
- Time to Pay Arrangement (see below)
Applying for a Time to Pay Arrangement
Show moreA Time to Pay arrangement is an agreement to make scheduled payments to repay your outstanding fines or infringements. If your application for a Time to Pay arrangement is approved, your fine suspension(s) will be lifted. You are eligible to apply for a Time to Pay arrangement if your matter is registered with the Fines Enforcement Registry for enforcement and you are an individual who has not paid your Infringement Notice or Court Fine by the due date.
Refer to the Applying for a Time to Pay Arrangement – Factsheet for information about your eligibility to apply and maintaining payments under a Time to Pay arrangement.
Corporations are not eligible to apply for a Time to Pay arrangement on infringements, but may apply for a Time to Pay arrangement within 28 days of a court fine being issued. Once this 28 day period has lapsed, Time to Pay arrangements will not be approved.
Apply for a Time to Pay arrangement through the following options:
- eCourts Portal
- Complete and return a Time to Pay Application Form (also available at your nearest court) by post or email fercentrepay@justice.wa.gov.au
- Phone the Fines Enforcement Registry .
Court Fines
Show moreA court fine is a financial penalty which a judge, magistrate or justice of the peace has ordered you to pay in a Western Australian Court. When you receive a court fine, it will be registered with the Fines Enforcement Registry the day after the fine or order was given to you.
Pay your court fine before the due date to avoid additional fees. You may be able to apply to convert a court fine into community work by completing and returning a Request to Convert Court Fine to Community Work Form) (also available at your nearest court) by post or email ferwarrants@justice.wa.gov.au. You will be notified by mail of the outcome of your request.
If your fine is still outstanding after 28 days from the date of the notice, a Notice of Intention to Enforce will be served, warning that your driver’s and/or vehicle licence may be suspended. Other enforcement actions such as an enforcement warrant may be issued against you.
Refer to the Understanding Court Fines – Factsheet for information about other enforcement actions that can be taken, how to dispute a court fine and consequences of ignoring outstanding fines.
Infringements
Show moreInfringements are issued by the Western Australian Police, local government authorities and various other Prosecuting Authorities, either in person or through the post. You might receive an infringement for offences such as speeding, illegal parking, not registering your motor vehicle or littering. If you do not pay your infringement by the due date it will be registered with the Fines Enforcement Registry.
You have 28 days from the date on the notice to either pay the infringement in full or choose to have the matter heard before a magistrate in the Magistrates Court. To have your matter heard before a magistrate, complete and return an Application for a Court Hearing Form to the Fines Enforcement Registry.
To avoid additional fees, pay your infringement before the due date by following the instructions on the infringement. After 28 days, the Prosecuting Authority will issue you with a final demand notice, giving you a further 28 days to pay your infringement.
Once the final demand period has expired the infringement will be registered with the Fines Enforcement Registry and further fees will be added to the outstanding amount. You will then receive a Court Order to Pay or Elect from the Fines Enforcement Registry. This may be issued within weeks but it is dependent on the registration timeframes of the applicable Prosecuting Authority. If no payment is received your driver’s and/or vehicle licence may be suspended and/or an Enforcement Warrant may be issued to recover the outstanding debt.
Refer to the Understanding Infringements – Factsheet for information about other enforcement actions that can be taken, how to dispute an infringement and consequences of ignoring outstanding infringements.
Enforcement Warrants and Stay of Execution Arrangements
Show moreAn Enforcement Warrant is a warrant that is issued for unpaid court fines and infringements. Enforcement Warrants are issued by the Registrar of the Fines Enforcement Registry to the Sheriff. They give the Sheriff authority to take further action to recover unpaid court fines and infringements. Enforcement warrants authorise the Sheriff to:
- wheel clamp your vehicle
- remove your vehicle registration plates
- suspend and/or cancel your vehicle licence
- seize and sell your personal property
- lodge memorials (caveats) on your land and/or real property (real estate).
If you can’t pay the Enforcement Warrant you may be eligible to apply for a payment arrangement called a Stay of Execution. A Stay of Execution arrangement temporarily stops an Enforcement Warrant from being actioned. Scheduled payments are made towards the outstanding amount on the warrants that are held by the Sheriff. If you are eligible to apply, an approved Stay of Execution arrangement will prevent further enforcement action and will lift any licence suspensions that are in place, as long as payments are made in accordance with the agreed schedule. Contact the Fines Enforcement Registry to apply.
If an enforcement warrant has been issued on an infringement and you were unaware, you may be able to apply to the court to have the enforcement warrant set aside. See the Legal Aid website and the Aboriginal Legal Service website or further information.
Refer to the Enforcement Warrants and Stay of Execution Arrangements – Factsheet for further information about enforcement warrants and stay of execution arrangements.