Fines and Court Costs
The District Commissioner of Northwest Iceland is responsible for the collection of fines and court costs throughout the country.
Police Commissioners in each jurisdiction are, however, responsible for collecting fines for speeding offences detected by speed cameras and other traffic offences that may be settled by a fine notice. Payment arrangements cannot be made for fine notices.
Collection procedure
Once a claim has been issued, it will appear in the debtor’s online banking system. Collection letters are sent to the individual’s inbox on island.is.
If the claim remains unpaid 30 days after the collection letter has been sent, and no payment arrangement has been made, the following enforcement measures may be applied:
Registration in a default register, following unsuccessful seizure of property
Enforcement of a substitute sentence
Payment arrangements
Requests for payment arrangements must be submitted in writing to innheimta@syslumenn.is or by post to the District Commissioner of Northwest Iceland. The minimum monthly payment under a payment arrangement is ISK 10,000, and payments may be spread over a maximum of 12 months.
An extension of the payment period may be granted in special circumstances.
Payments may be made to account 0159-26-267, kt. 660914-0990. The debtor’s ID number (kt) and name must be specified with the bank payment. Payment by credit card is also possible.
Substitute sentence
If the claim cannot be recovered through enforcement measures such as seizure of property or forced sale, the District Commissioner of Northwest Iceland will decide whether to impose a substitute sentence for the fine. The principal penalty is the fine; the substitute sentence is its enforcement through imprisonment or community service.
A substitute sentence will not be considered until all collection measures have been exhausted.
Imprisonment
Where the District Commissioner decides that a substitute sentence is to be served in prison, the debtor will be notified of the location and date for commencement of the sentence. Failure to appear at the designated time while the fine remains unpaid may result in arrest and detention to serve the sentence.
If the fine is paid in full, the imprisonment order will be withdrawn.
Partial payment of the fine does not cancel the decision to enforce imprisonment.
Community service
Individuals required to serve a substitute sentence for fines of ISK 100,000 or more may apply to serve the sentence through unpaid community service, for a minimum of 40 hours and a maximum of 480 hours. Further information on the conditions for serving a substitute sentence by community service can be found here.
Applications for community service as a substitute sentence must be submitted to the District Commissioner of Northwest Iceland, but it is the Icelandic Prison and Probation Administration that assesses the application, determines whether the conditions are met, and either grants or refuses approval.
Serving the sentence in treatment
On the basis of a specialist opinion, permission may be granted to serve a substitute sentence for a fine at a treatment facility or hospital. The Icelandic Prison and Probation Administration processes such requests, which must be submitted by the treatment facility itself.
The maximum duration for serving a sentence in treatment is generally 10 days.
Application for cancellation of court costs
If the debtor’s financial circumstances are difficult, they may request that court costs be cancelled. Such requests must be directed to the District Commissioner of Northwest Iceland.
Applications will not be processed until all required supporting documents have been submitted.
Required documents:
Copies of the applicant’s two most recent tax returns
Copies of the applicant’s three most recent payslips
Other documents that may support the application, such as:
Confirmation of school enrolment if the applicant is in education
Medical certificate if the applicant’s ability to earn income in the future is reduced due to permanent disability or illness
Certificate from Registers Iceland confirming custody and registered domicile of a child or children, or a document setting out arrangements for child maintenance, such as a confirmation or ruling by the District Commissioner, a court judgment, or a court settlement
Submission of an application for cancellation of court costs does not prevent further collection measures such as seizure of property, forced sale, or registration in a default register.
Processing time
Once the application and all necessary supporting documents have been received, a response can generally be expected by the tenth day of the following month.
Between 1 January and 10 March each year, the processing of applications for cancellation of court costs is suspended due to the submission of tax returns. Applications will be considered once the filing deadline has passed and the applicant has submitted their new tax return. The official receipt date of the application will then be the date on which the applicant’s tax return is received.
Service provider
District Commissioner of North West Iceland