The Fines Payment Unit | Where can I pay fines? | Online payment | What if I can't afford to pay my fine? | What other kinds of assistance are available to me? | Means assessment | Why would I need to be means assessed? | How do I arrange for a means assessment? | What do I need to bring to a means assessment appointment? | What happens after I've been means assessed? | Any further questions?
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The Fines Payment Unit

The Fines Payment Unit (FPU) is a special purpose unit established within the Magistrates Court of South Australia to handle all business relating to the collection and enforcement of fines. The FPU was formed when the South Australian Government introduced legislation which changed the way in which fines are collected and enforced. This legislation came into effect on 6 March 2000.

The staff of the FPU are specially trained to assist you with any matter relating to fines, including enquiries, payments and requests for time to pay. If you cannot afford to pay your fine in full, they can arrange payment terms based on your ability to pay. The FPU is also responsible for enforcing unpaid fines through a variety of means including licence suspension and the seizure of goods. For more information on the enforcement process, click here.   

In Adelaide, the Fines Payment Unit is located on the ground floor of the Magistrates Court building. Other Fines Payment Units are located in the Magistrates Court registries at Port Adelaide, Elizabeth, Holden Hill and Christies Beach. Staff in country Magistrates Court registries can also perform the functions of the FPU. For location and contact details, click here.

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Where can I pay fines?

There are many options for people wishing to pay their fines:

• pay at any Post Office - provided payment is in full and before the due date - by cash, EFTPOS or cheque;

• mail payments by cheque or money order to the address that appears on the notice;

• you can pay court fines by credit card over the phone to the Easy Pay Fines Call Centre by telephoning Freecall 1800 659 538;

• you can pay court fines at any Magistrates Court registry by cash, cheque or credit card;

• by direct bank debit.  to make arrangements for this, you should either go to the Fines Payment Unit at any Magistrates Court registry or telephone the Easy Pay Fines Call Centre on Freecall 1800 659 538.

For further information on any of these payment options, contact the Easy Pay Fines Call Centre on  Freecall 1800 659 538.

The Fines Payment Unit cannot accept payment for expiation notices that have not gone to court. If you have been issued with an expiation notice for a traffic, parking, or other offence, you must pay it to the issuing authority by the method detailed on the notice. If you have any questions about a police expiation notice, the Police Expiation Notice Branch can be contacted on 61 8 8207 5950.

If you cannot afford to pay your expiation notice in full by the due date shown on the notice, you may be eligible to apply for relief. If you wish to enquire about this option, you should go to the FPU at any Magistrates Court registry, or contact the Easy Pay Fines Call Centre (Freecall 1800 659 538) before the due date.

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Online Payment

Go to CAA Online Fines Payment to pay by Visa, Bankcard, or MasterCard. IMPORTANT; Details as to the website's availability are included in the help menu on the site; or you can view the help page here.

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What if I can’t afford to pay my fine?

If you cannot afford to pay your fine in full by the due date, you should go to the FPU at any Magistrates Court registry, or telephone the Easy Pay Fines Call Centre to enquire about paying by instalments. If the FPU is satisfied that you cannot pay in full without causing hardship to you or your dependants, you may be able to negotiate a time payment arrangement, including payment by direct debit.

If the FPU decides that you don’t have the ability to pay what you owe within a reasonable period of time, you may be referred to the court for an alternative penalty. An alternative penalty can be licence disqualification or cancellation, community service or remission of the fine in part or full.

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What other kinds of assistance are available to me?

You can obtain information about the status of your court fine and the options available to you by going to the Fines Payment Unit at any Magistrates Court registry or by telephoning the Easy Pay Fines Call Centre on Freecall 1800 659 538.

Aboriginal Justice Officers are also available to give specific help to indigenous Australians. They can be contacted on 61 8 8207 6272, 61 8 8204 8435, 61 8 8204 8438 or through the Easy Pay Fines Call Centre on Freecall 1800 659 538.

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Means assessment

Why would I need to be means assessed? 

Anyone who is unable to pay their court fine in full within 28 days, or who is unable to make an offer to pay by instalments at a rate that is satisfactory to the Fines Payment Unit will need to undergo a financial means assessment. Such an assessment is necessary to allow the FPU to accurately determine whether you have the financial means to pay your fine within an acceptable period of time. 

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How do I arrange for a means assessment? 

You can make an appointment to see a Fines Payment Unit financial assessor by attending at any Magistrates Court registry, or by contacting the Easy pay Fines Call Centre on Freecall 1800 659 538. 

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What do I need to bring to a means assessment appointment?  

You will need to provide full details of both your income, assets and savings, and your expenses, debts and liabilities. You will need to provide proof of these things. Examples of some of the things that you should bring to provide proof (or that you will need to be able to provide satisfactory details about) are:-

Income

• payslips

• bank statements

• Centrelink payments advice

• rent relief

• spouse/partner income

• superannuation income

• income from property

• income from investments

• income from all other sources

• if self-employed copy of last tax assessment

Expenses

• rent books or receipts
• evidence of board paid
• home loan accounts
• store card accounts
• credit card accounts
• hire purchase accounts
• health insurance accounts
• medical/chemist accounts
• school fee accounts
• ETSA/gas accounts
• telephone accounts
• council rates notifices
• house insurance accounts
• car insurance accounts
• maintenance payment receipts
• car registration accounts
• details of all regular expenses
• details of all outstanding debts

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What happens after I have been means assessed?

If, as a result of the means assessment, a financial assessor determines that you have the capacity to pay the fine (either in full or by instalments), arrangements will be made for you to do so.

If, as a result of the means assessment, a financial assessor determines that you do not have the capacity to pay the fine, then arrangements will be made for you to be referred to the Court for reconsideration of penalty. An alternative penalty may be:

• licence disqualification, or

• licence cancellation, or

• community service order, or

• partial or full remittance of the fine.

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Any further questions?

Telephone:
Easy Pay Fines Call Centre
1800 659 538

E-mail:
easypayfines@courts.sa.gov.au

Mail:
The Manager
Fines Payment Unit
Post Office Box 6589 Halifax Street
Adelaide  South Australia  5000

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