What is the Police Infringement Notice System (PINS)?
Tasmania Police has developed a mobile app, the Police Infringement Notice System (PINS), which issues infringement notices electronically via tablet computers.
PINS processes the infringement electronically and it is sent to the recipient by post.
PINS features include automatic retrieval of licence, registration details and the photograph of the licence holder for identity checks.
Officers will have the ability to perform identification validation and capture geo-location data. Checks for information on prior convictions can also be made.
PINS automatically inputs the appropriate penalty for the infringement, and has the capacity to add notes and take photos.
Infringement notices enable offences to be dealt with without a court appearance. Around 90,000 infringement notices are issued by Tasmania Police a year.
There will be significant efficiencies from PINS. It’s anticipated that the savings in police time and paperwork will amount to 39 police hours a day, or $250,000 annually.
PINS can be used for most infringements, including:
> Traffic Offences
> Police Offences
> Crowd Control Regulations
> Gaming Control Regulations
> Animal Welfare Offences
> Environmental Offences
> Liquor Offences
> Licensing Offences
> Litter Offences
> Parks and Wildlife offences
> Public Health Regulations
> Fisheries Offences, and
> Breathalyser Infringements.
Police Infringement Notices can now be emailed
Police Infringement Notices can now be able to be emailed directly to people instead of in the post.
Emailing an infringement notice directly makes it easier for people to pay using the already established online payment process.
Infringement notices will only be emailed to you if you have had face-to-face contact with a police officer over the infringement where you consented to have the notice emailed directly to you.
PINS is used for most infringements, including:
– Traffic offences
– Liquor and licensing offences
– Fisheries offences
The new process is optional, and you can still elect to have the hardcopy infringement notice posted to your address.
You pay the fine in the normal way – either at Service Tasmania in person, online or over the phone.
Frequently Asked Question
Do I have to provide the officer with my email address?
Whilst there is a legal requirement to provide your name and address to a police officer when being dealt with over an infringement, there is no requirement to provide your email address unless you choose to.
Why do I get two emails from Tasmania Police?
The first email you will receive will be soon after the interaction with the police officer. When they submit the Infringement Notice the system will send you an email confirming your interaction with a police officer and advising you that you will be receiving the actual infringement notice within two business days. The second email will be the ‘Infringement Notice Advice’ email. This email will have an attached PDF of the infringement notice. This is the notice that you are legally served with and you are required to take action on.
Am I at more risk from scammers?
PINs will be emailed to you only if you have provided consent face-to-face with a police officer.
The infringement notice will contain the correct name of the driver, correct vehicle description and location of the alleged offence.
The infringement notice will contain the Tasmanian Government logo and barcode for use by Service Tasmania, as well as contact information for Tasmania Police Traffic Liaison Services, if a member of the public requires confirmation or assistance with the infringement notice.
If a member of the public feels they have received the infringement notice by mistake, or has not had face to face contact with a police officer, then please contact Traffic Liaison Services on (03) 6173 2963, or email traffic.liaison@police.tas.gov.au
What happens if my email is not working?
If you have provided your email address to police for the infringement notice to be served by email you have the responsibility of making sure your email is working as it will be taken to be served on you when police submit the notice and send the email to the address provided. At any stage you can request for the notice to be sent to you via postal service by contacting Traffic Liaison Services on (03) 6173 2963, or email traffic.liaison@police.tas.gov.au.
What if I have had dealings with a police officer and gave my email address but still have not received any emails?
You need to make sure you regularly check your email address provided to police. Make sure you also check that your security settings have not blocked the email and put it into your ‘junk’ or ‘spam’ folder.
If you have not received an email after being told you were going to get one, contact Traffic Liaison Services on (03) 6173 2963, or email traffic.liaison@police.tas.gov.au and they can look into the matter further and arrange for the infringement notice to be sent to via postal service.
What if I am from interstate or overseas?
The new process makes it far easier for people from interstate and overseas to receive their PINs. They can receive the notice whilst travelling, rather than waiting for it to be posted to their home address. So if they are on a holiday and away from their normal postal address the matter can be resolved quickly and easily.
How do I pay?
You pay the fine in the normal way – either at Service Tasmania in person, online or over the phone.
What if I want to challenge the notice?
The process of disputing an infringement notice has not changed. You have, within 28 days of receiving the infringement notice, to take one of the following options:
- Pay the infringement notice in full
- Make application for a variation of payment on conditions
- Lodge a notice of election for a court hearing or
- Apply to the issuing authority for withdrawal of the infringement notice.
Please note if you do nothing, after 28 days you will be taken to be convicted of the offence(s) to which the infringement notice relates.
What if there is an error on the electronic infringement? Is it valid?
The likelihood of an error within an infringement is slight. Information is automatically retrieved from the Motor Registry System, Department of State Growth. The app also provides assistance in selecting the type of infringement to be issued. Errors in spelling will not render the infringement invalid.
What if I didn’t get the posted infringement notice because I have moved, or have not changed my address, or the notice is lost?
The issuing officer will request the current address from a person who has allegedly committed an offence and the infringement notice will be sent to that address. By law, a member of the public is required to provide an officer with their current name and address if an offence had allegedly been committed. Allow four days to receive the infringement notice to arrive in the mail. It is important to give your current postal address to the police officer at the time of the alleged offence. If you don’t, this may result in further charges being laid. More information on infringement notices is available on the Monetary Penalties Enforcement Service website.