I have tried disputing a parking fine I received a bit long ago both under special circumstances and exceptional circumstances with the following story. But I got it rejected. They sent a letter mentioning that they cannot accept my application for enforcement review under special circumstances as the matter does not address criteria outlined. If you do have any suggestions please let me know anything cause this is too much to bear.
“ I recently contacted Fines Victoria and was informed that I have an outstanding fine of $315, consisting of a parking fine of $91 and an overdue amount of $214. I was unaware of this fine until I made the inquiry, and I would like to request a review of this matter. I received a parking infringement notice for an alleged violation that occurred on 20th January 2022. I would like to bring to your attention several important factors that warrant the dismissal of this fine or, at the very least, the removal of the unexpected additional charges. To provide you with a detailed account of the situation, I would like to outline the series of events:
On 20th January 2022, I was residing at Daly Boulevard, Highton. At the time, I parked my vehicle in front of my boarding house, which was located in a parking permitted zone.
However, I unintentionally exceeded the two-hour parking limit.Upon receiving the parking infringement notice, I promptly appealed the fine to the Geelong city council infringement department. I have attached a copy of my appeal letter, which outlines my reasons for disputing the fine.
Subsequently, I followed the instructions provided by my landlord and applied for a residential parking permit. Unfortunately, I did not receive any response to my appeal or any communication regarding the outcome while I resided at that address.
In March 2022, due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, including financial difficulties and my father's serious illness, I made the difficult decision to intermit the course, take a temporary break from my studies, and return to Sri Lanka. My father tested positive for COVID-19 in December 2021 and developed pneumonia as a complication. He had to be hospitalized and underwent a challenging recovery process.
While in Sri Lanka from March to May 2022, I did not have a fixed address to receive mail. Additionally, I was under significant psychological distress due to the circumstances surrounding my father's illness and the financial challenges my family was facing.
Upon my return to Australia at the end of May 2022, I was unfortunately struck with a severe case of shingles, which further delayed my ability to handle administrative matters. I was unwell and undergoing treatment until the end of July 2022.
It was only today, on the 29th of May 2023, that I discovered the outstanding fine when I contacted Fines Victoria to inquire about any outstanding fines. I was surprised to learn about the accumulated charges and the lack of communication regarding the outcome of my appeal. I would like to emphasize that I have a good history of compliance with parking regulations.
Since the incident described above, I have not received any fines or infringements. I assure you that this occurrence was an isolated incident, and I am committed to adhering to all parking regulations in the future.
Furthermore, I want to emphasize the extraordinary circumstances that contributed to the delayed response in addressing this matter. The combination of my father's serious illness, my own psychological distress, and subsequent health issues prevented me from effectively managing my administrative responsibilities during the specified period.
I have attached the following documents as evidence to support my case: - Parking infringement notice - Appeal letter to the Geelong city council - Tenant agreement, which does not mention the requirement for a parking permit - Bank statement for the past two months to support my financial situation - Medical statement regarding my father's condition - Travel itineraries to and from Sri Lanka during my absence - Psychological evaluation report highlighting the impact on my mental health Given the circumstances and my history of compliance ”
I don’t expect it to be waived, at the very least dismissal of the overdue amount would be a big relief. Please help!!
Way above our paygrade. Contact Legal Aid as a first step: https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/unpaid-fines-and-fines-victo…