Fines and installments

jimmycrackcorm

So Mrs Corm received a court fine for speeding a few weeks ago. The letter for the fine arrived today with a note that it can be paid in installments for up to a year and 42 days. But the judge gave the fine with three months to pay, and the fine letter says payment by three months time.

If the law is changed to allow fines paid by installments, why did the judge issue the three month decree, or am I missing something?

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

Total guesswork here, but would it possibly mean that she must have engaged/started making payments within three months, or it'll be treated as unpaid?

jimmycrackcorm

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy wrote:

Total guesswork here, but would it possibly mean that she must have engaged/started making payments within three months, or it'll be treated as unpaid?

No the fine just arrived with the note that it can be paid in installments over a year. However the fine itself says three months as per the judges direction. I think the law changed in January to allow for installments but I don't know why the judge would say three months to pay if so. Its contradictory, and why would a judge not know it?

Did she not pay a fine & then it went to court?

jimmycrackcorm

bubblypop wrote:

Did she not pay a fine & then it went to court?

She didn't receive a speeding ticket and consequently was summonsed to court. The judge fined her with three months to pay. The notice of this arrived as above.

The court office should take instalments.

Before it goes to Court it can be in instalments, after it may not. That seems the reasoning.

GM228

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

No the fine just arrived with the note that it can be paid in installments over a year. However the fine itself says three months as per the judges direction. I think the law changed in January to allow for installments but I don't know why the judge would say three months to pay if so. Its contradictory, and why would a judge not know it?

I'll clarify why the judge has given 3 months and why an installment option also exists. Both the judges payment date and the instalments option must be shown.

The timeframe given by the judge is what becomes known as the "relevant date for payment". It only applies if you choose to pay the fine in one payment in full.

However we all now have a legal option to pay by instalments (but only if the fine is €100 or more), in this case you have 12 months after the relevant date for payment to pay the rest of the instalments (first instalment must be made prior to the relevant date of payment), however the relevant date for payment in the case of the instalment option is automatically 42 days after the fine is issued irrespective of what date was given by the judge, hence the one year and 42 days to pay.

If you don't pay an initial payment within the first 42 days then you must pay in full as per the date set by the judge.

bubblypop wrote: »

The court office should take instalments.

That is correct, they can also be paid online, over the phone and in the post office.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Before it goes to Court it can be in instalments, after it may not. That seems the reasoning.

Only fines issued by the court can be paid by instalments.

jimmycrackcorm

GM228 wrote:

I'll clarify why the judge has given 3 months and why an installment option also exists. Both the judges payment date and the instalments option must be shown.

Thanks for an excellent and detailed answer.

GM228

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Thanks for an excellent and detailed answer.

Glad to help.

I haven't seen any of the fines but I would have tought that the info I posted above would have been with the fine or made available to you especially as the law requires the person be made aware of their options.

jimmycrackcorm

GM228 wrote:

I haven't seen any of the fines but I would have tought that the info I posted above would have been with the fine or made available to you especially as the law requires the person be made aware of their options.

It actually was but you get sent two pieces of paper which are contradictory, also the judge just says three months so its odd that you could say, no judge, I'll take the year instead.