What happens if you don't pay an interstate helmet fine?

Black helicopters, assassins in balaclavas and black clothes late at night when you least expect it.

You have been warned.

Certainly if it’s in Victoria!!! I believe this!

Firstly, I think there may be some confusion in the comments here about what the authorities can do to JB. I don’t believe that there is any risk to his licence. I’ve never heard of a bicycle offence being cause for licence suspension etc. An offence committed by a nbicycle rider has no influence on a person’s right to drive, conferred by their motor vehicle licence. So unless there’s some strange quirk of the law I’m not privy to, JB need not be fearful of a backlash come rego or licence renewal.

So, it becomes a simple debt for an offence under SA law, the princely sum of $125 being the moot point. The chances of the authorities in SA pursuing the matter are negligible with the costs of recovery higher than the reward. So, if unpaid, the fine will likely simply remain on the SA court records for an indeterminate time, and will only surface if you are detained in SA. I don’t believe that non-motoring fines of this amount are on Australia-wide databases, so getting pulled over in Canberra won’t result in any Bubba time here. There may be some more knowledgeable types lurking here who can correct any of the above of course.

Years ago I used to enjoy taunting the authorities with obfuscatory methods to circumvent the inevitable, I’m sure there are some tricks you could employ to delay and frustrate the SA collection authorities before you finally hand to hand over your moolah.

Years ago I had a fine for $40.00 for some minor traffic matter (parking probably) so I sent in a cheque for $39.95 with a hand-written voucher for a Five Cent Citroen Discount for the month of May. I received a receipt, and a freshly printed demand for 5c, with an official letter that as no such discount appeared in the relevant legislation, it was disallowed, and the remaining amount was to be paid within 14 days or I would be summonsed etc. Worth the $40 just to get the response I reckon!

How does one dress a chopper as Zorro?

matt31221 said :

My curiosity was piqued also so I called the Queanbeyan police station, and according to the Constable on duty – they have interstate cooperation and can suspend your car drivers licence eventually if you don’t pay the fine.
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Supposedly, yes. I was caught speeding in NSW about 5 years ago. Coughed up the money and paid my fine, but the point loss or any record of having been nicked never appeared on my ACT drivers licence.

I would think not a lot would happen in reality. It’s not worth chasing some bloke a few states away for $125.

Wear a helmet mate. A head injury isnt worth it. I personally think that if ridden responsibly, bikes are quite safe. I know its a pain but could save you grief one day.

Unpaid interstate fine can see your ACT drivers licence and registrations linked to you suspended. Then RAPID gets to pick you up and hand out $1300 worth of fines.

Chief Ten Beers said :

I wouldn’t be surprised if Australia was one of the only countries in the world that made people wear helmets on a bike. nanny state!

Making laws to protect citizens is one of the roles of a government. As long as there are people that continue to be too inconsiderate to do simple, cheap things to prevent self-injury, which has the potential to burden the rest of the community greatly, the “nanny state” argument continues to be an moot point. A bicycle helmet is a piece of basic safety equipment, proven to have saved lives or prevented injuries sustained from being more serious. It should not be seen as a “right” to risk life and limb, as you have a responsibility to everyone else, if not yourself.

If JB feels that the managed conditions of a display ride under closed road conditions changes the potential for injury, perhaps it is worth appealing. I’m more inclined, however, to place it in the same category as “only a few kilometers over the speed limit”.

Chief Ten Beers said :

I wouldn’t be surprised if Australia was one of the only countries in the world that made people wear helmets on a bike. nanny state!

By the way johnboy, you need to add a referrer link to the login link at the top of the page. It’s annoying.

You don’t want to wear a helmet? OK, fine. Just don’t expect me to contribute to your medical bills, rehab, or support if you sustain a head injury while not wearing your helmet. You know the risks and should be responsible for your own actions. Goes for motorcycles too. Ditto seatbelts.

Chief Ten Beers said :

I wouldn’t be surprised if Australia was one of the only countries in the world that made people wear helmets on a bike. nanny state!

By the way johnboy, you need to add a referrer link to the login link at the top of the page. It’s annoying.

and people in cars wear seatbelts! ridiculous!! i say let all the stupid people do what they want and die!! or even better, terribly injured and then us taxpayers can pay for their health and welfare for the rest of their lives.

seriously though now, every time i see a cyclist on the road without a helmet i think you bloody idiot.

however JB was in a closed off street and i doubt (although i could be wrong) fanging about the place at high speed so in that circumstance, it’s not different to me riding my bmx in the driveway when i was a kid – also sans helmet.

JB i don’t think they’d track you down but perhaps you should pay for peace of mind.

Interstate fines (regardless of source or action) potentially going unpaid?
That’s why we have the Commonwealth Service and Execution of Process Act 1992.

The State of South Australia can file in Adelaide for a warrant of commitment for unpaid fines served on your last known address via the State\Territory of residence, which then becomes a warrant of apprehension addressed to all enforcement officers of that State\Territory.
If you want to go down the path of sticking it to the man, read the ACT Corrections Management (Fine Defaulters) Policy 2009 beforehand.

Pay the $125 to SA or spend at least two days in the Hume Hilton for the fine plus any administration expense, (discharged at the rate of 1 day per $100 liability or part thereof, unless otherwise stated on your commitment warrant).

Personally I would have just jumped the curb and ridden off into the bush. Good luck chasing me on foot.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Australia was one of the only countries in the world that made people wear helmets on a bike. nanny state!

By the way johnboy, you need to add a referrer link to the login link at the top of the page. It’s annoying.

Well, you learn something everyday on RA. I didn’t know what the word ‘piqued’ meant so a quick dictionary search clued me up and now your entire post makes sense JB!

My curiosity was piqued also so I called the Queanbeyan police station, and according to the Constable on duty – they have interstate cooperation and can suspend your car drivers licence eventually if you don’t pay the fine.

I must say I believe they had the right intention with the fine however. I knew a bloke that was put into a coma for two months when he came off his pushie without wearing a bike helmet. I know another guy who came off his bike and landed on his head and back WITH a helmet on and he didn’t even get a concussion. It’s not worth the risk – helmets save lives.

Google it. Hypothetically the fine can be passed onto the States Debt Recovery Agency, who can cancel your right to drive in that state. It might be ok if its WA, but on this half of the country it might be a little more annoying. Also, all the systems are linked up, and technically its a traffic offence, so i wouldn’t be surprised if it leads back to your ACT license.

I’d write an angry letter, but either way, you’re probably going to have to pay the fine. “Cos everyone else was breaking the law too” isnt an excuse.

Just get your Reptoid mates to “fix” it for you.

Dunno about the fine, but there are places in this country where riding a strange looking bike while dressed as Zorro would immediately result in you being placed in the “Internal Body Cavity Inspection Required” queue. I won’t even begin to consider the potential consequences of simultaneously being Richard Roughcut.

It sounds like a real pisser, but I’d recommend paying the fine and avoiding the men with rubber gloves.

They’ll cancel your freak bike licence? And prevent you from renewing your freak bike rego? You wouldn’t want to risk that!

your gonna get hauled off gaol, and Bubba is gonna love your reason for getting locked up 🙂