Infringements, also known as a fine or a penalty notice, are issued under State Legislation. Infringements can be issued when a law or regulation is broken i.e. animal management, parking, health or local laws.
Infringements may be handed to you, sent in the mail or they may be placed on your vehicles windscreen.
Pay an infringement
Overdue fines
If you do not pay or request an internal review for your infringement by the specified due date on the notice, you may incur additional costs. The longer you wait, the more it may cost you.
If left long enough it may result in:
- Significant additional costs being incurred
- A Sheriff’s Officer may seize or sell your property, wheel clamp or impound your car, remove vehicle number plates or arrest you.
If you have received a parking fine, you may nominate the person responsible of the vehicle at the time of the offence.
An operator owner onus form (included with your fine) must be completed and returned to Council before the due date on the infringement notice to avoid further costs being incurred and issued to the registered owner of the vehicle.
Nominate the person responsible
What types of infringements can I appeal?
- Animals
- Local Law
- Health
- Parking
If you have received an infringement but feel there is a valid reason why you should not have to pay it, you can request that Council review the notice.
Only one internal review may be considered for each infringement, so make sure you provide all the details as well as any supporting documents from third parties. You need to provide all of the relevant information up front to help us make a decision.
Timeframes
You can submit an application for internal review any time up until:
- the infringement due date
- the offence is registered with Fines Victoria
On what grounds can I request a review?
You must apply based on one of the following six categories:
1. Contrary to Law
Please provide the reasons why you consider the decision to issue you with an infringement was unlawful (eg. the infringement was not valid).
For more examples and evidentiary requirements, visit the Justice and Community Safety website.
2. Mistaken identity
Please provide an explanation of why you rely on the ground of mistake of identity (including evidence e.g. that the applicant could not have committed the conduct because they could not have been in the relevant location).
For more examples and evidentiary requirements, visit the Justice and Community Safety website.
3. Special circumstances
Special circumstances include:
- a mental or intellectual disability, disorder, disease or illness
- a serious addiction to drugs, alcohol or volatile substance
- homelessness
- family violence within the meaning of the Family Violence Protection Act 2008.
- long term condition/circumstances making it impracticable to deal with the fine
Examples of supporting evidence could include: medical evidence from medical practitioners, invoices or receipts, statutory declarations or affidavits, witness statements, photographs, travel documentation, police statements or records.
For more examples and evidentiary requirements, visit the Justice and Community Safety website.
4. Exceptional circumstances
Please provide details of the exceptional circumstances (where you have committed the offence due to unforeseen or unpreventable circumstances, eg. medical emergencies).
For more examples and evidentiary requirements, visit the Justice and Community Safety website.
5. Person unaware of fine
An application made on the ground of ‘person unaware’ must:
- be made within 14 days of you becoming aware of the infringement notice (You may evidence the date that you became aware of the infringement notice by executing a statutory declaration)
- state the grounds on which the decision should be reviewed, and
- provide your current address for service
For more examples and evidentiary requirements, visit the Justice and Community Safety website.
Review conditions
You can only request an Internal Review of the decision to issue a fine once for any particular offence. The decision made by Council is final.
If you do not agree with Council’s decision you can request a court hearing. You must notify Council in writing of your intention to go to court.
How to apply
Complete the online application form and attach any relevant documents.
Request an internal review of an infringement
If you don’t agree with Council’s decision after an internal review, you can choose to have the matter heard in the Magistrates’ Court. You must notify Council in writing of your intention to go to court, you can do this by either:
Please note that additional costs may be incurred if you chose to have the matter referred to court.
If you are having difficulty paying your infringement by the due date, you can request either
- a payment plan or
- an extension of time to pay
Please note this request must be submitted before the due date as it appears on the infringement notice.
Request a payment plan / extension of time to pay