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Canberra Today 18°/23° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Drivers given more time to pay traffic fines

DRIVERS will get extra time to pay traffic and parking penalties after a new law was passed in the Assembly today that allows an extra six months to pay a fine.

Attorney General Simon Corbell said the Government recognised that paying a traffic or parking fine in full within the 28 days required could cause financial hardship for some Canberrans.

“ACT Labor is committed to assisting Canberrans doing it tough, and more flexible arrangements for paying penalties is another way to help,” Mr Corbell said.

The “Road Transport (General) Amendment Bill 2012″ will remove the current time limit of 28 days to apply for extra time to pay a fine, giving motorists an opportunity to seek an extra six months to pay.

“Illness, interstate or overseas travel or other personal circumstances may prevent a person who needs extra time to pay from responding within 28 days of receiving a penalty notice or a reminder notice,” he said.

“There may be circumstances where a person fails to seek extra time to pay, but later finds their financial situation changed and they face hardship in paying an infringement penalty in full.”

Mr Corbell said the change was among a suite of steps proposed to provide greater flexibility for payment of infringement notice penalties.

Other changes, which have been recommended by the Chief Minister’s Expert Panel for a Targeted Assistance Strategy, are being examined, including an instalment payment scheme and, for those in extreme hardship, a community work program option to discharge all or part of a penalty.

 

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