Appeal your parking fine

Fine already paid

Once a fine has been paid, it is considered final and cannot be reviewed.

Payment due date has passed

Requests made after the due date (28 days after the parking fine was originally issued) will not be accepted. If a Reminder Notice has been issued, your parking fine can no longer be reviewed.

Unaware of signage or machines

Not seeing a sign or ticket machine is not a valid reason. It is reasonable for a driver of a vehicle to familiarise themselves with an unfamiliar area prior to arrival and check for signage upon parking a vehicle.

Misunderstanding signage

Misinterpreting parking signs does not exempt you from compliance.

Lack of knowledge of parking rules

Not knowing local laws or payment requirements is not a valid excuse. It is reasonable for a driver of a vehicle to familiarise themselves with an unfamiliar area.

Disagreeing with the law

Believing the offence was insignificant or harmless does not invalidate the fine.

Ran out of fuel

Vehicle issues such as running out of petrol are not considered valid grounds.

Late or delayed appointments.

Personal scheduling conflicts, including delays for hospital or medical appointments, are not valid grounds for appeal of a parking infringement.

Work commitments

Being delayed at work, including at hospitals, is not a valid reason.

Brief stops in restricted zones

Even short stops in restricted areas are not permitted.

Financial hardship

While not grounds for withdrawal, payment plans may be available for fines over $200. For more information on payment plans and eligibility please contact Council.

Paid in a free zone

Paying for parking in a free bay (e.g. 3P FREE) does not negate the fine.

Payment errors

Mistakes using a parking machine or app (e.g, incorrect registration details or incomplete transaction) are generally not considered valid reasons for appeal.

Payment made after fine issued

Making a payment after receiving a fine does not cancel the infringement.

Delayed payment after parking

Leaving your vehicle to get change before paying is not acceptable.

Accessible parking without permit

Parking in a disability space without a valid permit is not permitted.

Commercial loading zone

Parking without a valid Council-issued commercial permit or in an unsuitable vehicle is not allowed. Suitable vehicles include utilities (including dual cabs), panel vans and vans without rear passenger seats and/or seat belts.

Exceeding time limit

Staying beyond the maximum time, even with further payment, is an offence.

Bus zones, but not a bus

Only registered buses (motor vehicle built or fitted to carry more than 12 adults, including the driver) may stop in bus zones.

Taxi zones, but not a taxi

Only licensed taxis or limousines may stop in taxi zones. Uber or other share rides are not permitted to park in Taxi Zones.

No Parking zones

Stopping for more than the time indicated on the No Parking sign (or for more than 2 minutes if no time is indicated) or leaving the vehicle unattended is not allowed.

No Stopping zones

Stopping in areas signed as a 'No Stopping' zone, or marked with a continuous yellow line, or within 10 metres of an intersection (without traffic lights) is prohibited.

Appeals from a driver who is not the registered owner of the vehicle

If the driver appealing the parking fine is not the registered owner of the vehicle, the registered owner must first submit a Statutory Declaration ( PDF, 0.19 MB ) nominating that person as the driver at the time of the offence.

Council can only consider an appeal from a non-registered owner when a Statutory Declaration has been provided by the registered vehicle owner confirming that the appellant was the driver at the time of the offence.

If no valid Statutory Declaration is provided, the appeal application may be automatically rejected.

Serious medical circumstances

This refers to an unexpected and urgent health situation involving yourself or someone you were assisting, where immediate medical attention was required, and it was not reasonably possible to comply with parking regulations.

It does not include:

• Scheduled medical appointments or non-urgent visits.
• Parking breaches committed while on scheduled duty as healthcare professionals / medical staff.

You must provide documentation confirming your involvement in a medical emergency at the time of the offence. Acceptable evidence includes:

• Medical certificate
• Hospital discharge paperwork
• A letter from a treating medical practitioner on official letterhead

Vehicle broken down

Council may consider withdrawing the parking fine if all of these conditions are met:

• The vehicle was removed from the location at the earliest possible opportunity, and
• The driver made reasonable efforts to position the vehicle in a safe location.

You must provide documentation confirming the mechanical breakdown at the time of the offence. Documentation must clearly indicate the date and nature of the breakdown. Acceptable evidence includes:

• Tow truck receipt
• Authorised roadside assistance receipt
• Mechanical repair invoice
• Receipt for parts purchased if you repaired the issue yourself

Parking meter machine was not working

Council systems will only flag a fault once it has been officially reported. Reporting the fault is essential if you wish to have a parking fine waived.

We may consider withdrawing the parking fine if all of the following conditions are met:

• You reported the faulty or damaged parking meter machine; and
• You attempted to use the next available parking meter machine or an alternative method of payment for parking (e.g. EasyPark)

You must provide documentation confirming that issues were experienced with the parking meter machine at the time of the offence. Acceptable evidence includes a written statement detailing:

• Attempts to use other parking meters in the vicinity.
• Attempts to pay using alternative methods (e.g. coins, card, EasyPark app).
• Confirmation that the fault was reported to the parking meter fault line (this phone number is clearly displayed on the parking meter).
• If available, include a time and date stamped video of the incorrectly working machine.

You must provide documentation to confirm payment was made for parking at the time the parking fine was issued and that the vehicle registration was recorded correctly. Acceptable evidence includes:

• Pay by Plate receipt (can be obtained via myparkingticket.com.au), or
• EasyPark payment receipt, or
• A copy of your bank statement showing payment for parking on the date and time the parking fine was issued.

All documentation must clearly state the payment’s date, time, location and the vehicle registration number to enable verification against Council records.

Note: If a vehicle registration was entered incorrectly during payment, the parking fine may be eligible for review for a first offence only. Applications will be rejected if registration errors occur on more than one occasion.

Parking permit was not displayed

This applies only to holders of the following permit types and who did not display it correctly.

• Commercial Vehicle Loading Zone Permit
• Residential Parking Permit
• Business Parking Permit
• Disability Parking Permit
• Reserved Bay Permit

You must provide a copy of the valid permit. Your documentation must clearly show the permit type, vehicle registration and the validity period covering the date and time of the parking fine.

Note: If a valid permit was not displayed, the parking fine may be eligible for review for a first offence only. Applications will be rejected if a valid permit was not displayed on more than one occasion.

You will need to provide a clear explanation of the incorrect information recorded on the parking fine. You must submit supporting documentation to verify the error.  Your evidence must be clear, dated and directly support your claim. Acceptable evidence may include (depending on the nature of the discrepancy):

• Photo of your vehicle showing the correct registration or location
• Copy of your vehicle registration certificate showing the correct vehicle details
• Any other relevant documentation that clearly demonstrates the discrepancy

Parking sign was missing, damaged or faded

Council officers inspect and document parking signage in the area prior to issuing a parking fine. Your evidence must clearly demonstrate that the signage was not visible or legible at the time of the offence.

You must provide photographic evidence clearly showing:

• The surrounding area where the vehicle was parked
• The specific parking sign that is missing, damaged or faded

Vehicle had been stolen or was being driven by someone else without my permission

You will need to provide a copy of the official Police report detailing the incident, including:

• Date and time of the incident
• Vehicle registration details

Vehicle was being driven by someone else with my permission

This applies to circumstances where the vehicle was being driven with the owner's permission (i.e. the car was on loan or hired out).

The registered owner of the vehicle must provide a Statutory Declaration ( PDF, 0.19 MB ) nominating the individual who had control of the vehicle at the time the parking fine was issued.  The declaration must be signed and witnessed by a Justice of the Peace (JP) or Commissioner for Declarations, in accordance with legal requirements.

The Statutory Declaration must include:

• Full name and contact details of the alternate driver (including current postal address)
• Date and time the vehicle was in their possession
• Confirmation that the vehicle was loaned or hired with your permission