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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


FINES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2006

                    Western Australia


 Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006

                       CONTENTS


      Part 1 -- Preliminary
1.    Short title                                                   2
2.    Commencement                                                  2
      Part 2 -- Fines, Penalties and
           Infringement Notices
           Enforcement Act 1994 amended
3.    The Act amended in this Part                                  3
4.    Section 3 amended and consequential amendments                3
5.    Section 5A inserted and consequential
      amendments                                                    4
      5A.      Service by electronic means                     4
6.    Section 10A inserted                                          5
      10A.     Registrar may disclose information to
               Commissioner of Police                          5
7.    Section 27A amended                                           5
8.    Section 27D inserted                                          6
      27D.     Registrar's decision on time to pay is final   6
9.    Section 32 amended                                            7
10.   Section 39 amended                                            7
11.   Section 41 amended                                            8
12.   Section 53 amended                                            9
13.   Section 55A amended                                          11
14.   Section 55E replaced                                         11
      55E.     Registrar's decision on time to pay etc. is
               final                                          11
15.   Section 101B amended                                         12
16.   Section 109 and Schedule 1 repealed                          12




                          161--3                                    page i
Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006



Contents



              Part 3 -- Sentencing Act 1995
                   amended
      17.     The Act amended in this Part       13
      18.     Section 59 amended                 13
      19.     Section 67 amended                 13
      20.     Section 87 amended                 14
              Part 4 -- Sentence Administration
                   Act 2003 amended
      21.     The Act amended in this Part       15
      22.     Section 7 amended                  15




page ii
                           Western Australia


                     LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

                      (As amended in Committee)


       Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006


                               A Bill for


An Act to amend the --
•  Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices Enforcement Act 1994;
•  Sentencing Act 1995; and
•  Sentence Administration Act 2003,
and for related purposes.



The Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:




                                                            page 1
     Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
     Part 1          Preliminary

     s. 1



                            Part 1 -- Preliminary
     1.       Short title
              This is the Fines Legislation Amendment Act 2006.

     2.       Commencement
 5            This Act comes into operation as follows:
               (a) sections 1 and 2 -- on the day on which this Act
                     receives the Royal Assent;
               (b) section 12(3) -- on the tenth working day (being a day
                     other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday
10                   throughout the State) after that day;
               (c) the rest of the Act -- on a day fixed by proclamation.




     page 2
                                            Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
          Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices Enforcement Act        Part 2
                                                     1994 amended

                                                                                s. 3


          Part 2 -- Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices
                   Enforcement Act 1994 amended
     3.         The Act amended in this Part
                The amendments in this Part are to the Fines, Penalties and
 5              Infringement Notices Enforcement Act 1994*.
                [* Reprint 3 as at 9 December 2005.]

     4.         Section 3 amended and consequential amendments
          (1)   Section 3(1) is amended by inserting in the appropriate
                alphabetical position --
10              "
                     "dishonoured payment" means a purported
                         payment --
                         (a) by means of a cheque where the cheque is
                              subsequently dishonoured or cancelled; or
15                       (b) by means of a credit card where the payment
                              is not authorised by the issuer of the card; or
                         (c) pursuant to an arrangement to directly debit
                              an account with a person where the payment
                              is not authorised by the person;
20                                                                               ".
          (2)   Section 21(7) is amended by deleting "cheque." and inserting
                instead --
                " payment. ".
          (3)   Section 26(3) is amended by deleting "cheque." and inserting
25              instead --
                " payment. ".
          (4)   Section 102 is amended by deleting "cheque," in the 2 places it
                occurs and in each place inserting instead --
                " payment, ".

                                                                          page 3
     Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
     Part 2          Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices Enforcement Act
                     1994 amended

     s. 5


          (5)   Section 108(3)(e) is amended by deleting "cheque" and
                inserting instead --
                " payment ".
          (6)   Section 108(4)(c) is amended by deleting "cheque" and
 5              inserting instead --
                " payment ".

     5.         Section 5A inserted and consequential amendments
          (1)   After section 5 the following section is inserted in Part 1 --
     "
10          5A.       Service by electronic means
                (1)   If under this Act information or a document or notice
                      must or may be given to or served on a person, it may,
                      with the consent of that person be given or served --
                        (a) by sending it by fax to the person using a fax
15                            number given by the person; or
                        (b) by sending it by email to the person at an email
                              address given by the person,
                      to the person who is giving or serving it.
                (2)   Subsection (1) does not apply to giving or serving --
20                     (a) any document that under this Act must be
                             served personally;
                       (b) a final demand under section 14(2);
                       (c) a certificate or information under section 16;
                       (d) a document under section 21(4)(b);
25                     (e) a notice of withdrawal under section 22(2);
                        (f) any information or a document or notice under
                             Part 7;
                       (g) subject to section 105, a warrant of execution or
                             a warrant of commitment issued under this Act.


     page 4
                                            Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
          Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices Enforcement Act        Part 2
                                                     1994 amended

                                                                                 s. 6


                (3)   Subsection (1) does not limit the operation of
                      section 76 of the Interpretation Act 1984.
                                                                                  ".
          (2)   Section 3(1) is amended by inserting in the appropriate
 5              alphabetical positions --
                "
                      "give" information or a document or notice, has a
                          meaning affected by section 5A;
                      "serve" a document, has a meaning affected by
10                        sections 5 and 5A;
                                                                                  ".
          (3)   Section 5(1) is amended by deleting "this section." and inserting
                instead --
                " this section or in accordance with section 5A.       ".

15   6.         Section 10A inserted
                After section 10 the following section is inserted in Part 2 --
     "
            10A.      Registrar may disclose information to
                      Commissioner of Police
20                    The Registrar, on any terms the Registrar thinks fit,
                      may disclose to the Commissioner of Police any
                      information the Registrar thinks fit about any
                      proceedings under this Act.
                                                                                  ".

25   7.         Section 27A amended
          (1)   Section 27A(1) is amended as follows:
                  (a) by deleting the full stop at the end of the subsection and
                       inserting instead a comma;




                                                                              page 5
     Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
     Part 2          Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices Enforcement Act
                     1994 amended

     s. 8


                    (b)        by inserting at the end of the subsection --
                "
                              or on the grounds that the licence suspension order
                              would or does seriously hinder the alleged offender in
 5                            performing family or personal responsibilities.
                                                                                        ".
          (2)   Section 27A(2) is amended as follows:
                  (a) by inserting after paragraph (a) --
                       " or ";
10               (b) by deleting "; or" after paragraph (b) and inserting
                       instead a full stop;
                  (c) by deleting paragraph (c).
          (3)   After section 27A(4)(a) the following paragraph is inserted --
                          "
15                            (aa)   the alleged offender has a reasonable excuse for
                                     any contravention of a time to pay order made
                                     previously under this section in respect of the
                                     infringement notice; and
                                                                                        ".

20   8.         Section 27D inserted
                After section 27C the following section is inserted --
     "
            27D.              Registrar's decision on time to pay is final
                              A decision of the Registrar under section 27A, 27B or
25                            27C is final.
                                                                                        ".




     page 6
                                             Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
           Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices Enforcement Act        Part 2
                                                      1994 amended

                                                                                    s. 9


     9.          Section 32 amended
                 After section 32(2) the following subsection is inserted --
             "
                 (3)   Despite subsections (1) and (2), a fine may be
 5                     registered by the court officer at any time after it is
                       imposed if at the time the fine is registered there is --
                         (a) another fine imposed on the offender that has
                               been registered under this Part and that has not
                               been paid; or
10                       (b) an infringement notice in respect of the
                               offender that has been registered under Part 3
                               and that has not been paid.
                                                                                     ".

     10.         Section 39 amended
15               Section 39(1) is repealed and the following subsection is
                 inserted instead --
             "
                 (1)   A fine imposed on an offender may be registered by a
                       court officer if the prosecuting authority has given the
20                     court officer a written notice requesting the court
                       officer to register the fine and either --
                         (a) 28 days have elapsed since the fine was
                                imposed; or
                         (b) at the time the fine is registered there is --
25                                (i) another fine imposed on the offender
                                        that has been registered and that has not
                                        been paid; or
                                 (ii) an infringement notice in respect of the
                                        offender that has been registered under
30                                      Part 3 and that has not been paid.
                                                                                     ".



                                                                              page 7
     Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
     Part 2          Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices Enforcement Act
                     1994 amended

     s. 11


     11.         Section 41 amended
                 After section 41(2) the following subsections are inserted --
             "
                 (3)   If, at any time after a fine is registered and before a
 5                     warrant of execution or a warrant of commitment is
                       issued in respect of it, there is good reason to do so, a
                       court officer, in writing, may order the Registrar to
                       cancel the registration.
                 (4)   A court officer may only make an order under
10                     subsection (3) in respect of a fine to which Division 2
                       Subdivision 2 applies with the consent of the
                       prosecuting authority (as defined in section 39(2)).
                 (5)   When the registration of a fine is cancelled --
                        (a) any time to pay order made under
15                           section 55A(4) in respect of the fine is
                             cancelled; and
                        (b) any licence suspension order made in respect of
                             the offender in respect of the fine is cancelled;
                             and
20                      (c) any order to attend for work and development
                             made under section 47, 47A or 55D is
                             cancelled; and
                        (d) the Registrar must forthwith notify the offender
                             of the cancellation of any order that occurs
25                           under this subsection.
                 (6)   The cancellation of the registration of a fine does not
                       prevent a court officer from again registering the fine.
                                                                                   ".




     page 8
                                             Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
           Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices Enforcement Act        Part 2
                                                      1994 amended

                                                                                  s. 12


     12.             Section 53 amended
           (1)       Section 53(3) is repealed and the following subsection is
                     inserted instead --
                 "
 5                   (3)   A warrant of commitment is to commit the offender to
                           be imprisoned for a period (in days) specified in the
                           warrant that is the shorter of --
                             (a) the period of imprisonment determined by
                                  dividing the amount owed by the amount
10                                prescribed and rounding the result down to the
                                  nearest whole number of days; and
                            (b) the maximum term of imprisonment (if any) to
                                  which the offender could have been sentenced
                                  for the offence concerned,
15                         and that in any event is not less than one day.
                                                                                     ".
           (2)       Section 53(4) is repealed and the following subsection is
                     inserted instead --
                 "
20                   (4)   If, when the Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
                           section 12(1) (the "amending provision") comes into
                           operation, a warrant of commitment is in force but the
                           offender has not commenced to serve the period of
                           imprisonment specified in it, the warrant has effect as
25                         if --
                              (a) the amending provision; and
                             (b) the regulations made for the purposes of
                                   subsection (3)(a) as enacted by the amending
                                   provision,
30                         had come into operation before the warrant was issued.
                                                                                     ".




                                                                                 page 9
     Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
     Part 2          Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices Enforcement Act
                     1994 amended

     s. 12


        (3)        Section 53(8) is repealed and the following subsection is
                   inserted instead --
              "
                   (8)   The period of imprisonment specified in a warrant of
 5                       commitment is concurrent with any other period or
                         term of imprisonment that the offender is serving or
                         has to serve.
                  (8a)   If, immediately before the Fines Legislation Amendment
                         Bill 2006 section 12(3) (the "amending provision")
10                       comes into operation, an offender who has served, is
                         serving or has to serve a period of imprisonment under
                         a warrant of commitment is in prison, the offender is
                         entitled to be released from imprisonment on --
                           (a) the day on which the offender would have been
15                               entitled to be released if the amending
                                 provision had come into operation before the
                                 warrant of commitment was issued; or
                           (b) the day on which the amending provision
                                 comes into operation,
20                       whichever is later.
                  (8b)   In the case of an offender who is serving or has to
                         serve a parole term as defined in the Sentencing Act
                         1995 section 85(1), a reference in subsection (8a) to the
                         offender being entitled to be released is a reference to
25                       the offender being eligible to be released on parole.
                                                                                     ".
        (4)        Before section 53(9) the following subsection is inserted --
              "
                  (8c)   The Registrar may at any time cancel a warrant of
30                       commitment for good reason.
                                                                                     ".



     page 10
                                             Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
           Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices Enforcement Act        Part 2
                                                      1994 amended

                                                                                  s. 13


     13.         Section 55A amended
           (1)   Section 55A(1) is amended as follows:
                   (a) by deleting the full stop at the end of the subsection and
                        inserting instead a comma;
 5                (b) by inserting at the end of the subsection --
                 "
                         or on the grounds that the licence suspension order
                         would or does seriously hinder the offender in
                         performing family or personal responsibilities.
10                                                                                  ".
           (2)   Section 55A(2) is amended as follows:
                   (a) by inserting after paragraph (a) --
                        " or ";
                  (b) by deleting "; or" after paragraph (b) and inserting
15                      instead a full stop;
                   (c) by deleting paragraph (c).
           (3)   After section 55A(4)(a) the following paragraph is inserted --
                     "
                         (aa)   the offender has a reasonable excuse for any
20                              contravention of a time to pay order made
                                previously under this section in respect of the
                                fine; and
                                                                                    ".
     14.         Section 55E replaced
25               Section 55E is repealed and the following section is inserted
                 instead --
     "
             55E.        Registrar's decision on time to pay etc. is final
                         A decision of the Registrar under section 55A, 55B,
30                       55C or 55D is final.
                                                                                    ".

                                                                               page 11
    Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
    Part 2          Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices Enforcement Act
                    1994 amended

    s. 15


    15.         Section 101B amended
          (1)   Section 101B(3)(e) is amended by inserting after
                "section 47" --
                " , 47A or 55D    ".
5         (2)   Section 101B(4)(c) is amended by inserting after
                "section 47" --
                " , 47A or 55D    ".

    16.         Section 109 and Schedule 1 repealed
                Section 109 and Schedule 1 are repealed.




    page 12
                                              Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
                                         Sentencing Act 1995 amended         Part 3

                                                                                   s. 17



                      Part 3 -- Sentencing Act 1995 amended
     17.             The Act amended in this Part
                     The amendments in this Part are to the Sentencing Act 1995*.
                     [* Reprint 4 as at 12 August 2005.
 5                      For subsequent amendments see Western Australian
                        Legislation Information Tables for 2005 and Act Nos. 27 of
                        2004 and 25 of 2005.]

     18.             Section 59 amended
           (1)       Section 59(3) is repealed and the following subsection is
10                   inserted instead --
                 "
                     (3)   Unless the court sets a shorter period of imprisonment
                           under subsection (1)(b), the period of imprisonment (in
                           days) for the purposes of that subsection is the shorter
15                         of --
                             (a) the period determined by dividing the amount
                                   of the fine by the amount prescribed and
                                   rounding the result down to the nearest whole
                                   number of days; and
20                           (b) the term of imprisonment (if any) provided by
                                   the statutory penalty for the offence concerned,
                           and in any event is not less than one day.
                                                                                      ".
           (2)       Section 59(4) is repealed.

25   19.             Section 67 amended
                     Section 67(3) is amended by deleting "40" and inserting
                     instead --
                     " 10 ".



                                                                                 page 13
    Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
    Part 3          Sentencing Act 1995 amended

    s. 20



    20.         Section 87 amended
                Section 87(a) is amended by inserting after "reason" --
            "
                     (other than a warrant of commitment issued under the
5                    Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices Enforcement
                     Act 1994)
                                                                             ".




    page 14
                                           Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
                         Sentence Administration Act 2003 amended         Part 4

                                                                                s. 21



      Part 4 -- Sentence Administration Act 2003 amended
     21.         The Act amended in this Part
                 The amendments in this Part are to the Sentence Administration
                 Act 2003*.
 5               [* Act No. 49 of 2003.
                    For subsequent amendments see Western Australian
                    Legislation Information Tables for 2005 and Act No. 27
                    of 2004.]

     22.         Section 7 amended
10         (1)   Section 7(1) is amended by deleting the definition of "fixed
                 term" and inserting instead --
                 "
                      "fixed term" includes --
                           (a) a period of imprisonment ordered under
15                              section 58, 59 or 119A of the Sentencing
                                Act 1995; and
                          (b) a period of imprisonment specified in a
                                warrant of commitment issued under the
                                Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices
20                              Enforcement Act 1994;
                                                                                  ".
           (2)   Section 7(2) is amended by deleting "sentenced" and inserting
                 instead --
                 " who has ".
25




 


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