Penalty Units (NSW)
What is a “penalty unit”?
A “penalty unit” is a defined amount of money used to stipulate the amount payable for a fine or used to prescribe a maximum penalty for an offence. In NSW the current penalty unit amount is $110.00 for offences under NSW legislation.
An offence will have the maximum financial penalty described in an amount of penalty units. For example:
- Contravene ADVO –2 years’ imprisonment and/or 50 penalty unit fine = $5,500.00,
- Possess Prohibited Drug – 2 years’ imprisonment and/or 20 penalty units = $2,200.00,
- Speeding >20km/h – 20 penalty units = $2,200.00,
- Negligent Driving (no death or GBH) – 10 penalty units = $1,100.00.
Legislation:
| Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999
Section 17 Penalty units Unless the contrary intention appears, a reference in any Act or statutory rule to a number of penalty units (whether fractional or whole) is taken to be a reference to an amount of money equal to the amount obtained by multiplying $110 by that number of penalty units. |
This article was written by Sophie Ogborne
Sophie Ogborne has a Bachelor of Laws from University of Wollongong and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law. She was admitted to practice in New South Wales in 2020. Sophie has experience in criminal law, civil law, family law and in the criminal and equity divisions of the Supreme Court. Sophie now practices exclusively in...
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