What is the Victims of Crime Levy?
If you’ve ever received an expiation notice, you’ll know there’s a Victims of Crime (VoC) Levy added to the fine. RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain explains this levy and its purpose.
Since 1969, South Australia has provided financial support to eligible victims of crime. The VoC Levy supports victims of crime (including close relatives) with monetary compensation if they suffer physical and/or psychological injury, pain and suffering, and financial losses such as loss of earnings or treatment costs.
Applications for compensation are usually made by legal representatives of victims after a criminal matter has been dealt with by the relevant court. The amount of compensation depends on matters such as when the crime occurred, the nature of any injuries and whether the victim contributed to them, and whether the victim cooperated with authorities during the investigation and prosecution.
The current maximum payout for crimes occurring since 1 July 2015 is $100,000.
Other than through the VoC Levy, the VoC Fund receives money from the South Australian Parliament, confiscated proceeds of crime and a proportion of some fines paid by offenders.
SA is the only Australian state where a VoC Levy (currently $105) is applied to all expiation notices and court fines, regardless of the offence.
The VoC Levy is paid into the VoC Fund and applies to common traffic offences like speeding and running red lights, and offences like jaywalking and littering when issued by SA Police. The VoC Levy doesn’t apply to council-issued fines. To finalise an expiation notice, both the fine and the levy must be paid.
The VoC Levy amount is determined by the Attorney General’s Department, which also administers the levy and fund with the Department of Treasury and Finance.