Magistrates' Court Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2013
Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel
Authorised Version
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Magistrates' Court Criminal Procedure
(Amendment No. 4) Rules 2013
S.R. No. 177/2013
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Rule Page
1 Object 1
2 Authorising provisions 1
3 Commencement 2
4 Principal Rules 2
5 Definitions (Rule 96) 2
6 Proper officers 2
7 Application for time to pay, instalment order or variation of
instalment order 2
8 Consideration of application 2
9 Determination of the application 2
10 Enforcement of fines against a natural person 3
11 Form 18 amended 3
12 Form 22 amended 4
13 Form 23 amended 4
14 Form 35 substituted 4
Form 35—Application for the Fixing of a Longer Period for
the Determination of a Committal Proceeding for
a Sexual Offence 4
15 Forms 48, 49 and 50 substituted 5
Form 48—Application for Fine Conversion Order 5
Form 48A—Fine Conversion Order 8
Form 49—Consent to the Making of a Fine Default Unpaid
Community Work Order 10
Form 50—Notice about the Procedures for Enforcement of
Fines 12
16 Form 52 substituted 13
Form 52—Fine Default Unpaid Community Work Order 13
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STATUTORY RULES 2013
S.R. No. 177/2013
Magistrates' Court Act 1989
Magistrates' Court Criminal Procedure
(Amendment No. 4) Rules 2013
The Chief Magistrate together with 2 Deputy Chief
Magistrates jointly make the following Rules:
1 Object
The object of these Rules is to amend the
Magistrates' Court Criminal Procedure Rules
2009—
(a) to amend Order 10 (Infringements Court and
Fines) to make changes consequent on the
enactment of the Sentencing Amendment
(Community Correction Reform) Act
2011 and other miscellaneous changes;
(b) to amend the Notes for Information in
Form 18 (Application for a Rehearing) to
better reflect changes introduced by the
Criminal Procedure Act 2009; and
(c) to amend Forms 22 and 23 (Warrant to
Imprison) to make the terminology in those
Forms consistent with that used in the
Magistrates' Court Act 1989 and the
Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.
2 Authorising provisions
These Rules are made under section 16 of the
Magistrates' Court Act 1989 and all other
enabling powers.
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3 Commencement
These Rules come into operation on 20 December
2013.
4 Principal Rules
In these Rules, the Magistrates' Court Criminal
Procedure Rules 20091 are called the Principal
Rules.
5 Definitions (Rule 96)
In Rule 96 of the Principal Rules, for the
definition of regional manager substitute—
"Regional Manager has the same meaning as it
has in section 3(1) of the Sentencing Act
1991.".
6 Proper officers
In Rule 97 of the Principal Rules, for "Division 4
of Part 3" substitute "Part 3B".
7 Application for time to pay, instalment order or
variation of instalment order
In Rule 98 of the Principal Rules, for "section 55
of the Sentencing Act 1991" substitute
"section 55(1) of the Sentencing Act 1991".
8 Consideration of application
In Rule 99(1) of the Principal Rules omit
"or 55(2)".
9 Determination of the application
For Rule 100(3) of the Principal Rules
substitute—
"(3) A fine conversion order under
section 55(1)(d) or 55(3) of the
Sentencing Act 1991 must be in
Form 48A.".
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10 Enforcement of fines against a natural person
(1) For Rule 101(1) of the Principal Rules
substitute—
"(1) A consent under section 62(10)(a) of the
Sentencing Act 1991 to the making of a fine
default unpaid community work order must
be in Form 49.".
(2) For Rule 101(3) of the Principal Rules
substitute—
"(3) A fine default unpaid community work order
under section 62(10)(a), 62A(1) or 64(4) of
the Sentencing Act 1991 must be in
Form 52.".
11 Form 18 amended
For the "NOTES FOR INFORMATION" at the
foot of Form 18 of the Principal Rules
substitute—
"NOTES FOR INFORMATION
If the application is made by the accused:
1. Within 7 days of lodging the application, you must serve a copy of the
application on the person who charged you. This is done—
(a) by giving a copy of the application to the informant or a person
representing the informant at a hearing in relation to the charge; or
(b) by sending a copy of the application by prepaid ordinary post
addressed to the informant at the business address nominated by
the informant; or
(c) by sending a copy of the application by fax or email addressed to
the informant at the fax number or email address nominated by the
informant; or
(d) by leaving a copy of the application for the informant at the
informant's business address with a person who appears to work
there; or
(e) in any other manner agreed to by the informant.
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Once you have served the application you must complete the ''Affidavit of
Service'' and give it to the Registrar of the Court at the venue where your case
was heard. You must do this within a reasonable time before the court date
for the hearing of the application.
2. If you are making an application for a stay of order you must serve a
copy of the application on the person who charged you 7 days before
the court date for the hearing of the application.
3. If you are in custody only because of the order that is the subject of this
application, you may apply for bail pending the re-hearing.
If the application is made by the informant on behalf of the accused:
A copy of the notice must be served in the same manner as a summons may
be served.".
12 Form 22 amended
In Form 22 of the Principal Rules omit
" a prison or police gaol".
13 Form 23 amended
In Form 23 of the Principal Rules, for "youth
training centre" substitute "youth justice centre".
14 Form 35 substituted
For Form 35 of the Principal Rules substitute—
"FORM 35
Rule 51
APPLICATION FOR THE FIXING OF A LONGER PERIOD FOR
THE DETERMINATION OF A COMMITTAL PROCEEDING FOR A
SEXUAL OFFENCE
(Section 99(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009)
In the Magistrates' Court of
Victoria at [venue] Court Reference:
TO: [identify party to whom notice of application is to be given]
THE APPLICANT [insert name] applies to the Court to fix a longer period
for the determination of a committal proceeding than that set out in
section 99(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009.
The proposed date for the committal proceeding is: [date].
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The application will be heard at the Magistrates' Court at [venue] on [date]
at [time] a.m.*/p.m.* or so soon afterwards as the business of the Court
allows.
A statement*/affidavit* in support has*/has not* been filed with the Court.
Signature of Applicant or Applicant's legal practitioner:
Date:
Registrar:
This application was filed by:
*delete if not applicable
__________________".
15 Forms 48, 49 and 50 substituted
For Forms 48, 49 and 50 of the Principal Rules
substitute—
"FORM 48
Rule 98
APPLICATION FOR FINE CONVERSION ORDER
(Section 55(1) of the Sentencing Act 1991)
In the Magistrates' Court of
Victoria at [venue] Court Reference:
APPLICATION
In the case against me by [set out details]
on [date] I was ordered to pay a fine.
I, [full name]
of [address and occupation]
now apply to the proper officer of the Magistrates' Court at [venue] for a fine
conversion order requiring me to perform unpaid community work as
directed by a Regional Manager, instead of paying the fine. I agree to
comply with such an order.
DETAILS OF THE COURT ORDER
The Court ordered that I pay $ in fines and costs.
I was was not present when the order was made.
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The Court:
ordered that the fines and costs be paid—
by [date]
by instalments of $ to be paid on the day of each
week fortnight month
did not make any order about payment.
DETAILS OF PAYMENTS MADE BY ME
[Set out details of payments made]
RATE OF CONVERSION OF AMOUNT(S) TO UNPAID COMMUNITY
WORK
I understand that the amount(s) that I owe for each unpaid fine together with
the amount of warrant costs included by the proper officer will be converted
into hours of unpaid community work at the rate of 1 hour for each
0⋅2 penalty unit or part of 0⋅2 penalty unit which I owe, with a minimum of
8 hours and a maximum of 500 hours work to be performed by me.
CONDITIONS OF THE ORDER
I understand that the following conditions will apply to the order and I agree
to comply with them:
During the period of the fine conversion order I must—
not commit another offence punishable by imprisonment.
report to a community corrections centre as specified by the Court.
report to, and receive visits from, a community corrections officer.
notify an officer at the specified community corrections centre of any
change of address or employment within 2 clear working days after
the change.
not leave Victoria except with the permission of an officer at the
specified community corrections centre.
obey all lawful instructions and directions of community corrections
officers.
perform unpaid community work as directed by the Regional Manager
for a period determined by the Court.
Tick whichever applies
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Dated at [place] on [date]
[Signature of person in default] [Print name]
Witnessed by—
[Signature of witness] [Print name]
NOTE: The registrar who deals with this application will notify you in
writing of the decision.
[To be completed by the proper officer]
I received this application on [date]
The amount of warrant costs to be included is $
[Signature]
[Print name]
__________________
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FORM 48A
Rule 100(3)
FINE CONVERSION ORDER
(Sections 55(1)(d) and 55(3) of the Sentencing Act 1991)
In the Magistrates' Court of
Victoria at [venue] Court Reference:
TO
of
Date of birth [date]
On [date], this fine conversion order is made against you requiring you to
perform unpaid community work in respect of the unpaid fine(s) set out
below imposed by the Magistrates' Court at [venue] on [date].
Unpaid amounts
Charge Fine
Statutory
costs Costs
Hours of work
ordered
How hours to
be served
Where the hours are stated as being served cumulatively, they are to be
performed cumulatively, or in addition to any other fine conversion order/fine
default unpaid community work order made in respect of unpaid fines.
A minimum of 8 hours unpaid community work is required to be performed.
This order commences on [date] and ends on [date].
You must attend [address of community corrections centre] within 2 clear
working days after [date].
The Magistrates' Court at [venue] will supervise this order.
The conditions of this Order are that you must:
not commit another offence for which you could be imprisoned during
the time that the order is in force.
report to the above community corrections centre within 2 clear
working days of the order starting.
report to, and receive visits from, a community corrections officer.
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notify an officer at the above community corrections centre of any
change of your address or employment within 2 clear working days
after the change.
not leave Victoria without first obtaining permission to do so from an
officer at the above community corrections centre.
obey all lawful instructions and directions given to you by community
corrections officers.
perform unpaid community work as directed by the Regional Manager
for the hours of work specified in this order.
This order was made on [date] at [venue].
[*Signature of magistrate/*proper officer]
*Delete if not applicable
__________________
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FORM 49
Rule 101
CONSENT TO THE MAKING OF A FINE DEFAULT UNPAID
COMMUNITY WORK ORDER
(Section 62(10)(a) of the Sentencing Act 1991)
In the Magistrates' Court of
Victoria at [venue] Court Reference:
Name [full name]
of [address]
CONSENT TO A FINE DEFAULT UNPAID COMMUNITY WORK
ORDER
I consent to the making by the Court of a fine default unpaid community
work order requiring me to perform unpaid community work as directed by a
Regional Manager, instead of paying a total penalty of $ .
RATE OF CONVERSION OF AMOUNT(S) TO UNPAID COMMUNITY
WORK
I understand that the amount(s) that I owe for each unpaid fine will be
converted into hours of unpaid community work at the rate of 1 hour for each
0⋅2 penalty unit or part of 0⋅2 penalty unit which I owe, with a minimum of
8 hours and a maximum of 500 hours work to be performed by me.
CONDITIONS OF THE ORDER
I understand that the following conditions will apply to the order and I agree
to comply with them:
During the period of the fine default unpaid community work order I
must—
not commit another offence punishable by imprisonment.
report to a community corrections centre specified by the Court.
report to, and receive visits from, a community corrections officer.
notify an officer at the specified community corrections centre of
any change of address or employment within 2 clear working days
after the change.
not leave Victoria except with the permission of an officer at the
specified community corrections centre.
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obey all lawful instructions and directions of community
corrections officers.
perform unpaid community work as directed by the Regional
Manager for a period determined by the Court.
Dated at [place] on [date]
[Signature of person in default] [Print name]
Witnessed by—
[Signature of witness] [Print name]
TO THE PERSON IN DEFAULT
The Court will send you a notice of the making of a fine default unpaid
community work order and its conditions.
__________________
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FORM 50
Rule 101
NOTICE ABOUT THE PROCEDURES FOR ENFORCEMENT OF
FINES
(Section 62(8) of the Sentencing Act 1991)
A warrant to arrest has been issued to the sheriff for non-payment of the
fine(s) imposed against you in the Magistrates' Court. A summary of the
fine(s) and the total amount still outstanding is attached.
You may obtain further details of the penalties from any venue of the
Magistrates' Court. To do so, you must provide the Court reference which is
also on the attached summary.
YOU HAVE 7 DAYS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH THIS DEMAND IS
MADE IN WHICH TO PAY THE AMOUNT OUTSTANDING, OR TO
OBTAIN AN INSTALMENT ORDER OR TIME TO PAY ORDER, OR TO
CONSENT TO THE MAKING OF A FINE DEFAULT UNPAID
COMMUNITY WORK ORDER
Payment must be made to the sheriff, [insert address]
IF YOU CANNOT PAY
You may apply to the registrar at any venue of the Magistrates' Court for an
order that the fine be paid by instalments, or an order that you be allowed
time to pay the fine.
If you do not pay the fine and do not make an application to a registrar you
may consent to the Court making a fine default unpaid community work
order requiring you to perform unpaid community work instead of paying
the fine. You may be required to perform one hour of unpaid work for
each 0⋅2 penalty unit or part of 0⋅2 penalty unit of each fine outstanding.
A minimum of 8 hours work under the direction of the Regional Manager
must be performed, irrespective of the amount outstanding, up to a maximum
of 500 hours.
You can obtain a consent form from the person making this demand.
IF YOU DO NOT PAY OR TAKE ANY ACTION
If you do not take any action, you will be arrested and brought before the
Court. If the Court is satisfied that you have defaulted in payment for more
than one month, it may—
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• make a community-based order requiring you to perform unpaid
community work under the direction of a Regional Manager for one
hour for each 0⋅2 penalty unit or part of 0⋅2 penalty unit then remaining
unpaid with a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 500 hours. You may
also be ordered to pay additional costs.
• order that you be imprisoned for one day for each penalty unit or part of
a penalty unit then remaining unpaid with a maximum of 24 months,
and may order you to pay additional costs.
• order that the amount of the fine then unpaid be levied under a warrant
to seize property.
• vary any existing order for payment of the fine by instalments.
• adjourn the hearing or further hearing of the matter for up to 6 months
on any terms that the Court thinks fit.
__________________".
16 Form 52 substituted
For Form 52 of the Principal Rules substitute—
"FORM 52
Rule 101
FINE DEFAULT UNPAID COMMUNITY WORK ORDER
(Section 62(10)(a) of the Sentencing Act 1991)
In the Magistrates' Court of
Victoria at [venue] Court Reference:
TO
of
Date of birth: [date]
On [date], with your signed consent, this fine default unpaid community
work order is made against you requiring you to perform unpaid community
work in respect of the unpaid fine(s) set out below which was imposed by the
Magistrates' Court at [venue] on [date].
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Unpaid amounts
Charge Fine
Statutory
costs Costs
Hours of work
ordered
How hours to
be served
Where the hours are stated as being served cumulatively, they are to be
performed cumulatively, or in addition to any other fine conversion order/fine
default unpaid community work order made in respect of unpaid fines.
A minimum of 8 hours unpaid community work is required to be performed.
This order commences on [date] and ends on [date].
You must attend [address of community corrections centre] within 2 clear
working days after [date].
The Magistrates' Court at [venue] will supervise this order.
The conditions of this Order are that you must:
not commit another offence for which you could be imprisoned during
the time that the order is in force.
report to the above community corrections centre within 2 clear
working days of the order starting.
report to, and receive visits from, a community corrections officer.
notify an officer at the above community corrections centre of any
change of your address or employment within 2 clear working days
after the change.
not leave Victoria without first obtaining permission to do so from an
officer at the above community corrections centre.
obey all lawful instructions and directions given to you by community
corrections officers.
perform unpaid community work as directed by the Regional Manager
for the hours of work specified in this order.
This order was made on [date] at [venue].
[*Signature of magistrate/*proper officer]
*Delete if not applicable
__________________".
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Dated: 17 December 2013
PETER LAURITSEN,
Chief Magistrate
FELICITY BROUGHTON,
Deputy Chief Magistrate
BARRY BERNARD BRAUN,
Deputy Chief Magistrate
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ENDNOTES
1 Rule 4: S.R. No. 181/2009 as amended by S.R. Nos 18/2011, 59/2011,
123/2011, 150/2011, 118/2012 and 155/2013.
Endnotes
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