Request an infringement review

We can review any infringement fine issued by City of Melbourne that has not been paid, not been registered with Fines Victoria and not been referred to the Magistrates’ Court.

If you have been issued with a fine, you can apply for a review in writing.

For parking fines, you must be the registered owner of the vehicle. The registered owner can also nominate the person responsible for the parking fine. Find out more about how to make a driver nomination​.

You can also provide another person (such as a family member or friend) with written authority to apply on your behalf.

For fines iss​ued to a company (or company-owned vehicle), you must be the company director or authorised to act on behalf of the company.

The law provides five categories or grounds for a fine to be reviewed:

1. Contrary to law: you believe an offence did not occur or that the infringement notice is not valid.
2. Exceptional circumstances: unforeseen and exceptional circumstances outside your control may excuse the conduct that led to the offence. This could include a medical emergency or a vehicle breakdown.
3. Mistake of identity: you believe the fine was issued to the wrong person or vehicle.
4. Special circumstances: circumstances that contributed to you having a significantly reduced capacity to understand or control the offending behaviour due to a mental or intellectual disorder, disease or illness, serious addiction, homelessness or family violence. Or you are experiencing long-term circumstances (not solely or predominantly related to your personal finances) that make it impracticable for you to pay. Find out more about ​special circumstances.
5. Person unaware: you did not receive advice of the infringement because your fine was served by post and you changed your address around the time the fine was issued.

In most circumstances, we need verifiable evidence from a third-party to support your grounds for review.

You should provide this evidence as supporting documents when you apply.

Learn more about providing us with supporting documents.​

When we receive your application we will place your fine on hold while we review it.

We consider all available information including evidence collected by the issuing officer, circumstances and supporting documents provided by you or third parties, and any requirements under law.

We will notify you of the outcome in writing. We’ll also notify you if we need more information from you.

When we review your fine there are a number of possible outcomes. These include:

• confirming the decision to issue a fine
• withdrawing the fine and replacing it with an official warning
• withdrawing the fine
• withdrawing the fine and referring the matter to the Court.

If the fine is confirmed, you have a number of options to deal with your infringement.​

Internal reviews can take up to 90 days or longer if we need more information from you.

If we need more information, we will notify you in writing and provide you with a due date to supply it. After that date, we’ll make a decision based on the information we have available to us.

If we confirm the decision to issue your fine, we’ll notify you in writing and give you a new due date to take action to deal with your fine.

If you need legal assistance, help finding a local community legal centre or further advice about your options in dealing with a fine, you can contact Victoria Legal AidOpens in new tab​.​​

If your vehicle broke down, you’ll need to supply a:

• letter from a roadside assistance provider (showing the car registration, date, time and location of where it was repaired) or
  mechanic’s invoice (detailing the work performed, date and time) or
• receipt/invoice for parts that were purchased on the day if you fixed the problem yourself or
• towing invoice if the vehicle was towed (indicating the car registration, date, time and location it was towed from).

This must be on official letterhead and include the company’s ABN and contact information. We’ll contact the provider to check the details.

Unfortunately from time to time, applicants provide us with false or misleading documents. This is illegal and may lead to prosecution or referral to Victoria Police.

We consider a medical emergency to be a severe injury or illness posing an immediate risk to a person’s life or long term health.

If an emergency occurred, you’ll need to supply an official letter on letterhead from the hospital or treating doctor that confirms:

• you were involved in a medical emergency at the time the fine was issued, and 
• how this prevented you from parking legally.

The medical facility may have a Patient Liaison Team that may be able to assist you with a letter that confirms what happened on the day. A medical certificate isn’t sufficient. If you were driving your passenger to the emergency department, we’ll consider a certificate of attendance from that department.

We consider that drivers should make allowances for common delays like doctors or appointments running behind schedule.

Sometimes, verifiable and unforeseen circumstances outside of your control can cause your vehicle to be illegally parked. For example if your appointment led to an unexpected immediate hospital admission, or you required unexpected immediate testing like an MRI scan.

If an unexpected medical delay happened to you, you’ll need to supply an official letter on letterhead from the hospital or treating doctor, confirming:

• that the medical circumstances were unexpected, and 
• how this prevented you from returning to your car.

The medical facility may have a Patient Liaison Team that may be able to assist you with a letter that confirms what happened on the day. A medical certificate isn’t sufficient.

Read our web page about supporting documents for special circumstances​.​