Well, I am a lawyer - but in NSW, rather than Queensland.
So factor that in when deciding how much notice of what I say here.
Where "circumstances" are a thing, consider the option to elect for a court hearing.
I note however that you may be out of time.
I agree that "I never got the renewal" in and of itself, will pretty much never fly as an explanation.
This is because the onus is on the registered owner/ registered operator/ whatever
to keep their address current.
That said, a Magistrate may have more sympathy for the (in your words) "extreme circumstances"
than will some cardigan in the department. And certainly has more discretion to vary (or even discharge) the offence.
But it seems that time is short, and the person had better get to it.
So factor that in when deciding how much notice of what I say here.
Where "circumstances" are a thing, consider the option to elect for a court hearing.
I note however that you may be out of time.
I agree that "I never got the renewal" in and of itself, will pretty much never fly as an explanation.
This is because the onus is on the registered owner/ registered operator/ whatever
to keep their address current.
That said, a Magistrate may have more sympathy for the (in your words) "extreme circumstances"
than will some cardigan in the department. And certainly has more discretion to vary (or even discharge) the offence.
But it seems that time is short, and the person had better get to it.
