The Victorian Government has changed the infringements system, introducing a new initiative called ‘Fines: Fairer and Firmer’. The initiative includes legislation (The Infringements Act 2006) to impose new enforcement measures on people with unpaid fines.
Under the legislation, the Sheriff’s Office has the power to direct VicRoads to impose registration and licensing sanctions for unpaid fines. The Sheriff’s Office may direct VicRoads to:
- suspend a driver licence or permit; and/or
- suspend the registration of a motor vehicle or trailer
People who have their licence or permit suspended:
- cannot lawfully drive a motor vehicle and
- must surrender their driver licence/permit by mailing it to VicRoads.
People who have a vehicle or trailer registration suspended:
- must not drive/use, or allow another person to drive/use, that vehicle/trailer; and
- cannot transfer the registration of that vehicle/trailer to another person or organisation; and
- will have a Sheriff's Office security interest recorded against the vehicle/trailer on the Vehicles Securities Register.
All sanctions are effective from the date of the letter issued by VicRoads to the customer informing them of the sanction. VicRoads will remove a sanction only when directed to do so by the Sheriff’s Office and will notify the customer in writing when this occurs. VicRoads has no discretion to apply or remove sanctions without the direction of the Sheriff.
All queries relating to the sanctions should be directed to the Sheriff’s Office on 1300 743 743.