//
© 2026 Zoe. All rights reserved.
Zoe is a legal information platform. Always consult the official source for authoritative text.
Queensland act
This is Queensland's State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 — the law that governs how fines and financial penalties are collected and enforced across Queensland.
Almost everyone in Queensland — anyone who receives a fine or financial penalty from a government authority, whether it's a speeding ticket, a parking fine, or a court-ordered penalty.
SPER is the government body responsible for collecting unpaid fines. Think of it as the State's fine collection agency. It's run by the Commissioner of State Revenue and can hire private debt collectors to help chase unpaid fines.
When you get an on-the-spot fine (like a speeding ticket), you have 28 days to:
If the fine is large enough (above a "threshold amount"), you can also apply to pay by instalments.
If a traffic offence happens with your car, you as the owner are assumed to have committed it — even if someone else was driving. You can escape this by submitting a declaration naming the actual driver, proving the car was stolen, or showing you had sold the car before the offence.
Want the full deep dive?
Zoe can write the in-depth analysis on top of the summary above: how it works, who it affects and what each part actually does.
Direct links to the current provisions in State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999.
Zoe has indexed the source text for search and analysis. Use the official register for the original document and download formats.
View on official registerSourced from Queensland Legislation (legislation.qld.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
This is an important protection for people who genuinely can't afford to pay their fines. If you're experiencing:
...you may be able to apply (through an "approved sponsor" like a community organisation) for a Work and Development Order instead of paying. This lets you satisfy your debt through activities like:
While you're complying with a WDO, enforcement action against you is paused.
This Act determines what happens when you don't pay a fine — from enforcement orders and warrants, through to wage garnishment or having your licence suspended. It also provides important safety valves for vulnerable people who cannot pay, reducing the use of imprisonment as a last resort for fine default.