*The process may be different and amounts owing will change when dealing with an expiation notice as opposed to a court issued fine.

Court imposed Fine of $200

Fine $200 plus Prosecution costs of $150 + Victims of Crime levy @ $262 [Victims of Crime (Fund and Levy) Regulations 2018 (SA) Schedule 1]

= $612.

After 28 days, a Reminder Notice is sent, adding an additional fee of $63.

A further amount is added to the amount owed ($117) for failing to pay the fine.

Amount now due is$792.

After 14 days, Fine Enforcement may commence if the fine is still unpaid.

The Chief Recovery Officer may suspend the debtor's driver's licence and stop the debtor doing any business with the Registrar of Motor Vehicles (such as registering a vehicle). Each action, if applied, will add $22.70 to the amount owing.

Amount now due is $837.40

After a further 30 days have passed since the fine originally became due (being 28 days after it was issued), an additional fee of $215 is added to the amount owing.

Amount now due is $1,052.40

The Chief Recovery Officer has wide enforcement powers. They can place a charge on a debtor's land, seize and sell property, garnish a debtor's wages and publish a debtor's name online.

At any stage a debtor can pay the amount then outstanding in full or make a payment arrangement with the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit.

* amounts as at 1 July 2023.

Expiation Notices

The same procedure applies for an unpaid Police Expiation Notice or notice issued by a local government council, however, the late fees that apply may be different [see Fines Enforcement and Debt Recovery Regulations 2018]. If the notice is disputed, a person may elect to be prosecuted or may request that the notice be withdrawn because it is trifling. If payment will cause financial hardship, an application should be made to the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit to pay by instalments or to extend the time to pay.

If both an expiation notice and reminder notice are ignored, enforcement action may be taken by the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit - see Fines Enforcement and Debt Recovery Act 2017 (SA) Part 7 and Expiation Notices.