Section 8, sub-section 12 of the Imperial Acts Application Act dictates that "All promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction are illegal and void." That means speeding fines, parking fines, red light camera fines, infringement notices, expiation notices, failure to vote fines, failure to register dog fines and ANY other type of fine you can name, are ALL completely illegal.
The law that protects you
The Imperial Acts Application Act is an Act of the Parliament of Victoria, but if you refer to Sections 116 and 117 of the Commonwealth Constitution, you will see that ALL states have to give full force and effect to the Victorian Act. You cannot be punished or penalised because you live in another State that does not have that same Act, has repealed it, or has changed it in some way.
Furthermore, even if there was no such thing as an Imperial Acts Application Act, the Imperial Acts would still apply because, as stipulated in the Commonwealth Constitution, all the laws that applied in England at Federation still apply today — only the UK Parliament can repeal them.
ALL fines are illegal before conviction
Until you have been convicted of something by a court of competent jurisdiction, ALL fines — including speeding fines, parking fines, camera fines and infringement notices — are illegal and void under the Imperial Acts Application Act.
The Strawman and your ALL CAPS name
Any fine is issued to your ALL CAPS name — or Strawman — and not to you, the flesh-and-blood human being. This is another major argument you need to understand. The government creates a paper entity using your name in capital letters, and all fines, notices and penalties are addressed to that entity. Understanding the distinction between you and your Strawman is central to exercising your rights.
Police powers and your rights
You do not have to speak to Police unless you are under arrest. You are completely within your rights to film and record the police if they pull you over. Stand your ground and do not incriminate yourself. If pulled over, record the encounter, ask whether you are being detained or are free to go, and do not answer questions beyond confirming your identity if lawfully required.
Private parking fines (CarePark and others)
Private parking fines from companies like CarePark are not government-issued fines — they are invoices from a private company. You are under no legal obligation to pay them. If you receive a follow-up from their solicitors, you can formally challenge them. Our founder, Mike Palmer, has demonstrated this by exchanging letters with CarePark's lawyers that expose the lack of any legitimate legal basis for their claims.
Director ID requirements
If you are concerned about the Director ID requirements, we recommend using the physical offline form rather than the online version. You can send a cover letter stating that you have completed the form "Under Duress" due to repeated threats of fines, and that you do NOT consent to them sharing the details of the contents of that form with any third party.
If you were coerced into applying for a Director ID and want to withdraw consent, you can make it clear that you do not consent to your personal, private information being passed on to any third party.
Getting help with fines
We recommend checking out the Aussie Speeding Fines resources for a proven, step-by-step system for challenging all manner of unjust and unlawful fines. Their e-book "Speeding Fines — What You REALLY Need to Know" is an excellent starting point.
However, our aim with the Know Your Rights Group is to inform and educate people so they fully understand their rights and can write their own letters — not just rely on templates. We want you to understand the principles behind your rights so you can exercise them freely.
Questions to ask before taking action
Was the fine issued before a conviction? If so, it is illegal and void under the Imperial Acts Application Act — no conviction means no lawful fine.
Is the fine addressed to your ALL CAPS name? Fines are issued to your Strawman — the corporate entity — not to you, the living human being.
Is it a private parking fine? Private companies like CarePark issue invoices, not fines. You have no legal obligation to pay them.
Have you been asked to identify yourself? You do not have to speak to police unless under arrest. You have the right to record the encounter.
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Disclaimer: The information provided by Know Your Rights Group is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always seek independent legal advice for your specific situation.