In case you thought Australia is soft-hearted when it comes to issuing you a major fine, think again.

When you receive a fine, what your instinct should be telling you is, “I have to pay this immediately”. Why? Well, because like with any other country, there are usually many implications involved after you chose not to pay it and while many people find one way or another to get out of paying their fines, or at least most of it, the chance of that happening is a lot less likely than you think.

Is taking it to court worth it?

Let’s be real. While everyone around you will tell you to take it to court and either get the fine reduced or fight it completely, in most cases you really shouldn’t. Australia is a country that considers all of its rules and regulations. With that being said, everything gets taken seriously. This is true whether the established rule makes sense, or not.

If, however, you choose to challenge the rule rather than accept it, what should your ‘’valid’’ point be when you do make it to court? If you were speeding then it would probably not be the best choice to lie about the fact that you were speeding, but if you get to convince the judge that the number of points regarding the speed was off with a few points, chances are that he/her will most likely reduce your fine.

Another way to obtain a traffic fine is by the use of your phone while being on the road. While this is not exactly the best idea in any country if ever you do get into trouble for being on your phone, like most people, choosing to be prosecuted might be the way to go. This will allow you the opportunity to at least negotiate the amount you’ll have to pay.

What can you do if you don’t agree with the fine?

Upon receiving the ticket of the fine, you can fill in the option to be prosecuted rather than choosing the one that allows you to pay the fine. Being prosecuted means that you will then be summoned to court where you will have to explain and provide evidence as to why the charge should be withdrawn against you. Although negotiating won’t guarantee you success, in most cases it’s worth a try.

The costs

Regardless of your efforts, if you’re found guilty, the cost of your fine will be increased. This is not unfair but is due to the cost of a legal representation of a lawyer. While you could find lawyers that are reasonable with their prices, you’ll still have to pay the lawyer regardless, as well as an increased fee.

While it might be worth contesting fines in certain circumstances, if you don’t have a valid point to make, rather don’t.