Have you got an unpaid fine, but Have

special circumstances?

WHat you need to knoW

Do you have a mental or intellectual condition, addiction to drugs or alcohol or are you homeless?‘Special circumstances’ may apply to you if at the time you got the fine:

1. You had a mental or intellectual condition, or a serious addiction to drugs or alcohol, that meant you:

• didn’tunderstandthatthebehaviourwasagainstthelaw;or

• couldn’tcontrolthebehaviourthatwasagainstthelaw(evenifyouknewitwasagainstthelaw);or

2. Youwerehomelessandyourhomelessnessmeantthatyoucouldn’tcontrolthebehaviourthatwasagainstthelaw(evenifyouknewitwasagainstthelaw).

Homelessness can include staying in crisis accommodation,livingintransitionalhousing, couch surfing or sleeping rough.

Requesting a review of your fineIncertaincircumstancesyoucanasktheissuingagencytoreviewyourfinebecausetherewerespecialcircumstancesthatmeantyouwereunable to understand or control the offending conduct.

Important:IfyouhavereceivedanEnforcement Order in addition to the original fine, you can no longerapplyforareview.YoumustcontactCivicComplianceontelephone92008222orvisitGroundFloor,277WilliamStreet,Melbourne.

How and when to apply for a review Ifyoubelieveyouhavespecialcircumstancesyoushouldwritetotheissuingagencyandrequestareviewonthesegrounds.Youcanalsoaskafriendorsomeoneyoutrusttoapplyonyourbehalf,withyourwrittenapproval.

Thecontactdetailsoftheissuingagencywillbeonthe fine.

Anapplicationmustprovideyourcurrentcontactdetails(name,postaladdressandtelephonenumber)anddescribehowspecialcircumstancesapplytoyou.Itmustbesentbeforetheduedateonthefineor penalty reminder notice.

Important:Youareonlyabletomakeoneapplication,soseekinglegalassistancefromacommunityagencyisrecommended(seenextpage).

What do you need to provide?Youmustprovideastatementfromyour medicalpractitionerorcaseworkerthatexplains howyourspecialcircumstancesmeantyou couldnotobeythelaw.Thisstatementshould belessthan12monthsold.

Who can provide a statement confirming special circumstances?Statementscanbeacceptedfromrelevantpractitioners,includingbutnotlimitedto:

1. In the case of a mental or intellectual condition

• Generalpractitioner

• Psychologist,psychiatristorpsychiatricnurse

2. In the case of a serious addiction to drugs or alcohol

• Generalpractitioner

• Psychologistorpsychiatrist

• Casemanager

• Accrediteddrugtreatmentagencyorcounsellor

3. In the case of homelessness

• Caseworkerorcasemanager

• AgencyfundedundertheSupported Accommodation Assistance Act 1994 or otherhealth/communitywelfareserviceprovider(e.g.SalvationArmy,JesuitSocialServices)

Information for practitioners and case workersA statement should include:

• Thepractitioner’squalificationandtheirrelationshipwithyou

• Thenature,severityanddurationofyourcondition or symptoms

• Howyourconditionaffectedyourinabilitytounderstand or control your conduct leading to the offence

Itwouldalsobehelpfulifthestatementincludedanytreatmentyouhaveundertakenorarecurrentlyundertaking.

What happens next?• Ifyourapplicationissuccessful,theagencywill

informyouthatyourfine(andanyrelatedfees)hasbeenwithdrawnandthatnofurtheractionisneeded.

• Ifyourapplicationdoesnotcontainenoughinformation,youmaybeaskedtoprovidefurtherinformationbyacertaindate.Ifyoudonotrespond,yourapplicationwillbereviewedbasedontheinformationavailable.Ifyourequireanextension,youshouldcontacttheissuingagency.

• Ifyourapplicationisunsuccessful,thematterwillbereferredtotheMagistrates’Court.Thisgivesyou(oryourrepresentative)achancetopresentyourevidenceinfrontofaMagistratewhocanmakeadecisiononyourfine.Theissuingagencywillletyouknowthecourtdateandadviseifyouneed to do anything.

Who can help?• Theissuingagency(e.g.localcouncil,Victoria

Police)–theircontactdetailswillbeonyourfine

• VictoriaLegalAid–phone1300792387or visitwww.legalaid.vic.gov.au

• TheFederationofCommunityLegalCentres–phone96542204orvisit www.communitylaw.org.au

• TheLawInstituteofVictoriacanhelpyou findaprivatelawyer–phone96079550 (referralservice)orvisitwww.liv.asn.au

• CivicComplianceVictoria–phone92008222orvisitGroundFloor,277WilliamStreet,Melbourne

For more information on fines or the infringements system,visitwww.fines.vic.gov.au.

How to contact the City of MelbourneOnline: melbourne.vic.gov.auTelephone: 03 9658 96587.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday(Public holidays excluded)

Translation services

National Relay Service: If you are deaf, hearing impaired or speech impaired, call us via the National Relay Service: Teletypewriter (TTY) users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 03 9658 9658

9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday(Public holidays excluded)

In personMelbourne Town Hall - Administration Building120 Swanston Street, Melbourne7.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday(Public holidays excluded)

In writingCity of Melbourne GPO Box 1603 Melbourne VIC 3001

How to contact us

Online: melbourne.vic.gov.auTelephone: 03 9658 96587.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday(public holidays excluded)

Translation services

National Relay Service: If you are deaf, hearing impaired or speech-impaired, call us via the National Relay Service: Teletypewriter (TTY) users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 03 9658 9658

9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday(Public holidays excluded)

In person:Melbourne Town Hall - Administration Building120 Swanston Street, Melbourne7.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday(Public holidays excluded)

In writing:City of MelbourneGPO Box 1603Melbourne VIC 3001Australia

Fax: 03 9654 4854