You can receive fines (also called infringement notices or penalties) for offences relating to littering, trees and public land. Some examples include:
- abandoned vehicles
- advertising leaflets placed on a motor vehicle in a public place
- littering (also including failing to contain commercial, garden waste and construction material, as well as placing dangerous containers in a public place or landfill)
- public land use
- shopping trolleys (abandoned or used incorrectly)
- signage which doesn’t comply with movable sign requirements on public land
- transporting unsecure loads
- trees (damaging a protected tree).
Receiving and managing a fine
Fines can be given in person or in the mail. It will outline your offence and what to do next. You have 28 days to take one of the following actions:
- pay the fine (or management payment of the fine)
- apply for the fine to be withdrawn or waived
- transfer responsibility for the fine
- dispute liability, or
- seek an extension to do any of the above.
If you don’t take one of the above actions within the 28 days, you’ll receive a reminder notice. The reminder notice will inform you that you have incurred an additional administration fee and you have a further 28 days to take action.
If you don’t do anything by the due date in the reminder letter, you may be referred to the ACT Magistrates Court. If the Magistrates Court finds against you, you may:
- be convicted of the offence
- ordered to pay a penalty and costs
- be subject to other court orders.
Paying a fine
You can pay your fine as follows:
- Website: Pay online by selecting ‘Litter Act Infringement’ or ‘Public Unleased Land Act Infringement’ and entering the infringement number and payment details
- Phone: 13 22 81 (have your infringement number ready)
- Online banking: EFT to:
- Account name: TCCS Infringements
- BSB: 037-866
- Account number: This is your 9-digit infringement number
If you’re struggling to pay your fine or need more time, you can apply for the following:
- Payment extension: Please contact Licensing and Compliance and outline how long you need, the type of extension (i.e. you need more time to pay or gather evidence for a withdrawal request) and provide evidence to support this. We review applications against the Magistrates Court (Extension of Time) Guidelines 2024 (No 1).
- Payment plan: Please contact Licensing and Compliance to apply to pay in instalments (or make changes to an existing payment plan) and provide:
- information about your financial circumstances and whether you hold a card issued by Services Australia or Veterans’ Affairs
- your preference for either weekly or fortnightly payment instalments
- the amount you want to pay per instalment
- the date you can make the first payment.
- If your financial situation changes or you may struggle to make a scheduled payment please contact Licensing and Compliance as soon as possible. Your payment plan may be cancelled if you miss 3 consecutive payments or 6 payments within a 12-month period, or don’t pay the full instalment by the due date stated on the plan. The matter may be referred to the ACT Magistrates Court for prosecution.
- Fee waiver: If you are experiencing financial hardship, you can apply to have your fine waived so you don’t have to pay it. To apply for a fee waiver, contact Licensing and Compliance and provide evidence of financial hardship such as rental slips, pay slips, bank statements and credit card statements. Evidence of related circumstances that impact your ability to pay could relate to disability, illness, addiction, domestic violence or homelessness. Applications are reviewed against the Magistrates Court (Waiver of Penalty) Guidelines 2024 (No 1).
- Complete a program to reduce your fine: Visit Access Canberra’s Work or development plan webpage for more information.
Transferring responsibility for a fine
If the offence relates to a vehicle, you can transfer the fine to the person who was responsible for the vehicle at the time of the offence using the Known User Infringement Notice Declaration form (PDF 197.9 KB).
This form can also be used to transfer a fine from a corporation* to an individual or report a fine related to a vehicle which was stolen or sold.
If the offence is not related to a vehicle then you will need to fill in a Statutory Declaration (PDF 146.8 KB) stating who was responsible for the offence. You should submit the declaration and supporting evidence to Licensing and Compliance.
*Please note corporations must take reasonable steps to identify who was in control of the vehicle at the time of the offence so the fine can be transferred. See Access Canberra for more information about recording use of vehicles including a vehicle log template.
Applying for the fine to be withdrawn
You can request the fine is withdrawn if you have additional information or special circumstances that should be considered. Please submit a Statutory Declaration (PDF 146.8 KB) and evidence to Licensing and Compliance for assessment. Possible reasons and the evidence you need to provide are outlined below:
- Permit for public land use: Provide proof such as a copy of the permit or reference number.
- Good behaviour: Provide details to confirm that you have not incurred any fines or warnings in the last 5 years.
- Exceptional circumstances: Provide a statement detailing the exceptional circumstances and attach supporting evidence of the event.
- Emergency medical situation: Provide a copy of a hospital record, letter from a registered health practitioner and/or police report.
- Mechanical issues: Provide evidence of roadside assistance, towing or mechanical report if the offence relates to a faulty vehicle.
Withdrawal applications are assessed against the Magistrates Court (Withdrawal of Infringement Notices) Guidelines 2024 (No 1). We may take into account the circumstances, risk and seriousness of the offence as well as your awareness of the law. Disagreeing with a law, or finding it inconvenient to adhere to a law, are not grounds for having a fine withdrawn.
You will receive written notice of the decision.
Disputing the fine
You can apply to dispute the fine in court if you believe you haven’t committed an offence or weren’t liable for the offence. You will need to write to Licensing and Compliance stating your grounds for disputing the infringement and provide evidence to support your claims.
We will register the matter with the ACT Magistrates Court within 60 days and it will be heard in court (unless it is withdrawn).
Requesting additional information
If you want additional information about your fine, you will need to write to Licensing and Compliance.
What to do if you didn’t receive the fine
If you didn't receive the fine or notice due to one of the following reasons, you'll need to provide evidence to Licensing and Compliance for consideration.
- Incarceration: Court documents or other documentation proving you were incarcerated from the date you received the fine to the date of the suspension.
- Interstate or overseas travel: Passport pages, travel documents, itineraries or other documentation proving you weren’t in the ACT from the date you received the fine to the date after the deadline stated in your final notice. You may also need to complete a Statutory Declaration (PDF 146.8 KB).
- Hospitalisation or medical issue: Documentation proving you were in hospital or had a medical condition that prevented you from managing the fine.
- Stolen mail: Stolen mail report from Australia Post.
The Licensing and Compliance team within the City and Environment Directorates looks after fines related to trees, public land and littering.
To submit a request, please contact us via post or email as follows:
- Post: Senior Infringement Officer, Licensing and Compliance, City and Environment Directorate, GPO Box 158 Canberra ACT 2601
- Email: TCCS_LCInfringements@act.gov.au
If you have an enquiry you can call 13 22 88.
