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How to request a parking ticket review

A brief summary of your legal rights is outlined on the reverse of the infringement notice. Read it carefully together with the following information to find out if you would benefit from appealing.

Auckland City Council seeks to be fair in relation to infringement offences and will consider matters that you raise with us about the circumstances in which the infringement notice was issued. In some cases, the council may choose not to pursue the infringement any further. However, there are some circumstances that we are more likely to consider favourably than others.

Considering an appeal
Review process
Requesting a court hearing
Parking ticket has been lodged at court

Considering an appeal

You might want to write in if:

You had a medical emergency that prevented you from removing your vehicle
your vehicle was broken down and you could not move it
your vehicle was stolen
you were detained by the police.

Note: supporting documentation is required for all reasons above.

See query your parking or bus lane fine for different ways to submit your request.

You would have very little reason to write in if:

you lost track of time or the reason why you parked in a particular place took longer than you expected, e.g. hair appointment
you did not see the sign
you did not understand the parking sign
you have a permit but were not displaying it at the time
you went to get change for the pay and display machine (you are only entitled to five minutes for this)
your pay and display receipt or permit was not displayed correctly before leaving your vehicle.
you had to use the toilet
you were picking up or dropping off a passenger
other vehicles were parked illegally or inconsiderately
you were unaware your licence label or evidence of inspection (WOF) sticker had expired.

See query your parking or bus lane fine for different ways to submit your request.

Review process

We take several factors into consideration, including the law, the impact on other road users, the facts on the infringement notice and the circumstances outlined in the submission.

We also looks at supporting documents such as photographs, witness statements and delivery documents.

After considering all available information, we make a decision to either cancel or proceed with the infringement notice.

A response letter or email is then sent to the customer.

The review process can take up to 20 working days. During this period, please do not pay the infringement. A letter or email will be sent advising whether the infringement has been withdrawn or if it must be paid.

Requesting a court hearing

There are two options available for having an infringement notice considered by the Courts:

Written submission
- Sending a written submission means that you do not appear in court.
- This option is the only one available if you wish to plead guilty but feel you have good reasons that may excuse you.
- Your written submission and any previous correspondence you may have sent to Auckland City will be forwarded to the court on your behalf. If you have additional supporting evidence, include it with your request for a submission hearing.
- Justices of the peace will consider your submission in chambers and you will be notified of their decision by mail.
Defended hearing
- A defended hearing is when you believe you are not guilty.
- The hearing requires you to appear at court on the specified day.
- The court clerk will read out the defendants' names and when your name is called you will be asked to make your plea. Once you have pleaded not guilty, your case is usually heard the same day.
- Justices of the peace will consider what you and Auckland City Council's prosecutor and witness (usually the parking officer who issued the infringement notice) have to say before making a decision. If you have a witness or witnesses that you want to appear on your behalf please make sure they are at court on the day.
- If you request this option, you will be served with a notice of hearing, giving full details of when you are required to appear in court.

If you plead guilty (written submission) or are found guilty (at a defended hearing) of the offence, the court will order you to pay the fine and any other costs ordered by the court. If you choose either of these options, please write to us with the following information:

full name (initials not accepted)
postal address or address where notice of hearing may be served
date of birth
whether you would like a written submission hearing or a defended hearing
infringement notice number(s)
vehicle registration number
date and signature.

Please note only the person who parked the vehicle may request a court hearing.

Parking ticket has been lodged at court

Infringement notices can be lodged at court for two reasons:

You have requested a court hearing or made a written submission to the court
The fee was unpaid after the final payment date on the reminder notice

If the infringement notice was lodged at court as it was unpaid, it has already had an extra $30.00 lodgement fee added. A further $100.00 will be added if payment is not made within 28 days and the Court takes enforcement action.

You may be entitled to apply for the infringement notice to be removed from Courts and reissued by the Auckland City Council, which will let you make payment without these extra costs or send in an explanation for us to consider.

Applications are only considered for limited reasons (see s78B of the Summary Proceeding Act 1957). Some of these are:

Reminder notice sent to the wrong address
- You will need to include proof you have updated the Motor Vehicle Register
NZ Post has confirmed a mail delivery problem
Ownership of vehicle was changed prior to infringement
- You will need to include proof you have updated the Motor Vehicle Register
Customer made submission for review of infringement notice but did not receive response
- Must have made attempt to follow up on outcome before final payment date had passed.

If one of the above is what happened to you, you should apply for the notice to be reissued under section 78B of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957.

You will need to contact the Ministry of Justice to request a form 57.

Visit www.fines.govt.nz for more information on the fines process.

My Infringement Notice is Lodged At Court, But I Paid The Fine

If you believe the fine was paid before it lodged at court, contact us as soon as possible.

You will need to supply proof of the payment – either a receipt or a copy of your bank statement. Mail it to Auckland City Council, Private Bag 92516, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141 or e-mail a scanned copy to parking.infringements@aucklandcity.govt.nz.