{"id":"nsw:act-2019-013","name":"Fines Amendment Act 2019","slug":"fines-amendment-act-2019","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nsw","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"13 of 2019","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":29128,"registerId":"nsw-act-2019-013-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name of Act","content":"#### 1 Name of Act\n\n1 Name of Act\n\n> This Act is the [Fines Amendment Act 2019](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2019-013).","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n2 Commencement\n\n> This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 1","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Amendment of Fines Act 1996 No 99","content":"# Schedule 1 Amendment of Fines Act 1996 No 99\n\nSchedule 1 Amendment of [Fines Act 1996 No 99](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1996-099)\n\n**sch 1:** Am 1987 No 15, sec 30C.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 3\n\n\\[3\\], \\[4\\] (Repealed)","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Section 13 Referral for a court fine enforcement order","content":"#### 5 Section 13 Referral for a court fine enforcement order\n\n\\[5\\] Section 13 Referral for a court fine enforcement order\n\n> Omit section 13(1)(b)–(d). Insert instead—\n> \n> > > (b) the person seeks a work and development order or time to pay order in relation to the fine.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Section 14 When an order may be made","content":"#### 6 Section 14 When an order may be made\n\n\\[6\\] Section 14 When an order may be made\n\n> Omit section 14(1B). Insert instead—\n> \n> > > (1B) However, a court fine enforcement order may be made, without any default in payment, in relation to a fine imposed by a court on a person if the person seeks a work and development order or time to pay order in relation to the fine.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Section 14(1C)","content":"#### 7 Section 14(1C)\n\n\\[7\\] Section 14(1C)\n\n> Omit “(c) or (d),”.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"55","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 55\n\n\\[8\\]–\\[55\\] (Repealed)","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"56","sectionType":"section","heading":"Section 100(4B)","content":"#### 56 Section 100(4B)\n\n\\[56\\] Section 100(4B)\n\n> Omit “and may provide for a combined payment arrangement”.","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"57","sectionType":"section","heading":"Section 100(7)","content":"#### 57 Section 100(7)\n\n\\[57\\] Section 100(7)\n\n> Omit the subsection.","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"72","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 72\n\n\\[58\\]–\\[72\\] (Repealed)","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 2","sectionType":"schedule","heading":null,"content":"# Schedule 2\n\nSchedule 2 (Repealed)\n\n**sch 2:** Rep 1987 No 15, sec 30C.","sortOrder":13}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose of amending fine enforcement procedures. It does not expand beyond the Fines Act 1996 framework."},"complexity_factors":["Very short amending act (only 8 operative provisions, with most numbered items repealed)","Simple, mechanical amendments: deletions and substitutions of specific subsections","No new defined terms introduced","Minimal cross-referencing (only references to existing sections of the Fines Act 1996)","Clear, linear structure following the standard amending act format","Substantive changes limited to removing one payment option and expanding access to two existing alternatives"],"plain_english_summary":"This law makes changes to how fines are enforced in New South Wales. It removes the option for people to enter into \"combined payment arrangements\" (a system where multiple fines could be bundled together and paid off as one debt). Instead, people who can't pay their fines upfront can now apply for a \"work and development order\" (where you do unpaid work, counselling, or treatment instead of paying) or a \"time to pay order\" (where you get an extension to pay in instalments) **before** a court fine enforcement order is made against them. Previously, you had to wait until you defaulted on payment before seeking these alternatives. The changes streamline the process and remove the combined payment system entirely."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The amendment changes scope by both narrowing and expanding enforcement options: it removes the 'combined payment arrangement' mechanism (narrowing one enforcement/payment tool) while expanding when a court fine enforcement order may be made (permitting such orders without a payment default when a person seeks a work and development or time‑to‑pay order). This reallocates decision authority to courts earlier in the enforcement process and alters incentives and administrative obligations for fine payers and enforcement agencies (see amendments to ss 3, 13, 14 and 100)."},"complexity_factors":["Targeted amendments to multiple provisions (definitions and operative sections) require cross-referencing across the Act (ss 3, 13, 14, 100).","Removal of a defined term ('combined payment arrangement') creates ripple effects where that term was previously relied on (requires checking repealed references).","Change in trigger for enforcement orders (allowing orders without payment default when a WDO or time‑to‑pay is sought) introduces interaction with other relief mechanisms (work and development orders, time‑to‑pay orders).","Several subsections and provisions are omitted or repealed, raising drafting and transitional clarity questions for administrators.","Commencement by proclamation means staged implementation and operational uncertainty until proclamation date is set."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act amends the Fines Act 1996 to remove the “combined payment arrangement” concept and to permit a court fine enforcement order to be made even where there has been no payment default if the person seeks a work and development order or a time‑to‑pay order (amending ss 3, 13, 14 and 100). It affects people with court fines and the agencies and courts that enforce them: courts gain scope to convert cases into enforcement orders earlier, altering incentives for debtors and requiring administrative changes by enforcement bodies."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Insufficient content is available in the provided extract to assess whether the scope of the Act changed from its original intent. The text contains only website metadata and navigation elements, with no substantive provisions, explanatory memoranda, or amendment schedules included."},"complexity_factors":["The provided text contains almost no substantive legislative content — it is predominantly website navigation, metadata, and status information","No amendment provisions, schedules, or operative clauses are visible in the extract, making meaningful analysis impossible","The Act itself (amending fines legislation) could range from simple technical fixes to complex systemic reforms, but that cannot be assessed here","Staged commencement (two separate commencement dates: November 2019 and July 2020) adds a minor layer of complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"The Fines Amendment Act 2019 (NSW) amends the Fines Act 1996, updating how fines are managed and enforced in New South Wales. Passed in 2019 (operative 21 Nov 2019, with further commencements from 2 July 2020), it affects anyone issued fines (e.g. parking, speeding) by changing procedures and enforcement mechanisms. The extract lacks the specific amendment details; consult the updated Act or Revenue NSW for precise effects."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/fines-amendment-act-2019","history":"/api/acts/fines-amendment-act-2019/history","analysis":"/api/acts/fines-amendment-act-2019/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/fines-amendment-act-2019/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/fines-amendment-act-2019/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/fines-amendment-act-2019/documents"}}