261Proceeding for default in payment of fine or instalment order

261 Proceeding for default in payment of fine or instalment order

(1) The Children's Court may direct that a child be served with a notice to appear before the Court under section 257(1)—

(a) whether the fine or instalment order was imposed by the Children's Court, the County Court or the Supreme Court, on appeal or otherwise; and

(b) whether the child in respect of whom the application is made is 19 years of age or over.

(2) If the proceeding under section 257 is in respect of a child who is under 19 years of age when the proceeding commences, the Children's Court must hear and determine the proceeding unless—

(a) the fine or instalment order was imposed by the Supreme Court or the County Court and the child does not consent to the Children's Court hearing the proceeding; or

(b) the Children's Court considers that in all the circumstances of the case it is appropriate to transfer the proceeding to the court that imposed the sentence.

(3) If the proceeding under section 257 is in respect of a child who is 19 years of age or over when the proceeding commences, the Children's Court must transfer the proceeding to the Magistrates' Court or to the court that imposed the fine or instalment order unless the Children's Court considers that in all the circumstances of the case it is appropriate for the Children's Court to hear and determine the proceeding, having regard to the matters referred to in subsection (4).

(4) The Children's Court must have regard to the following matters for the purposes of subsection (3)—

(a) the age, maturity and stage of development of the child;

(b) the nature and circumstances of the alleged default;

(c) the stage of the proceeding;

(d) whether the child is the subject of another proceeding in any other court;

(e) the availability of appropriate sentences in the other court if the default in payment were proved;

(f) whether the child prefers to be dealt with in the Children's Court or any other court;

(g) any other matter that the Children's Court considers relevant.

(5) A proceeding under section 257 must not be transferred on the sole ground that the fine or instalment order was imposed by another court.

(6) For the purposes of subsections (2) and (3), the proceeding is taken to commence on the day on which a direction is given under section 257(1).

(7) If the child does not consent to the Children's Court hearing and determining a proceeding under section 257 or the Children's Court considers that a proceeding under section 257 should be transferred, the Children's Court must discontinue the proceeding and order that it be transferred to the Magistrates' Court or to the court that imposed the sentence, as the case may be, and in the meantime may—