Fines and penalties

Fines and penalties

Parking infringement notices (parking fines) are usually put under the windscreen wipers of your vehicle.

• Parking fines range in cost
• Offenders have 28 days to pay or appeal the fine
• If the fine is not paid or an exemption is not sought, 
• Will send a reminder notice to the owner of the vehicle and extra fees may be incurred
• If the fine remains unpaid, the matter will be referred to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) and additional fees will be incurred

Parking fines can be paid online with council's Online Services. Alternatively, fines can be paid in person or by post. 

When paying by post please include:  

• Your name
• Postal address
• Infringement number from the ticket
• Payment (cheque or money order). 

The State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) has prepared the fact sheets and brochures about their services:

Appealing a fine

If you believe the fine is not warranted, you can appeal it. Appeals must be lodged within 28 days from when the fine was issued.

To help you achieve the best outcome, it is important to supply evidence supporting your appeal. 

Depending on the type of fine issued, try to include: 

• Photographs or diagrams showing the exact location of the incident
• Building approval or private certification documentation
• Vehicle repair receipt
• Statutory declaration from an eye witness
• Written advice or crime report from the Queensland Police Service
• Pay and display parking ticket or receipt (if applicable) or a certified copy
• Infringement notice or a photocopy.

If you do not have the infringement notice, please provide:  

• Vehicle registration number (if applicable)
• Animal name, type and registration number (if applicable)
• Name and current address of company or owner; if different to your own.  You'll need to provide a statutory declaration to indicate you were not the driver
• Date of the incident.

There are three stages within the appeal process: 

• Stage One - Local Level Review
• Stage Two - Council Delegated Independent Officer
• Stage Three - External Review

Stage One - Local Level Review

Send an appeal form (PDF 90.1 kb) or appeal letter with any additional information or evidence to council.

After an investigation, council will send a written decision to let you know if the fine remains or if it has been waived.

Stage Two - Council's Delegated Independent Officer

If the fine stands after stage one, and you disagree with that decision, you can make an appeal to council's delegated independent officer . The delegated independent officer can overturn or choose to uphold decisions reached during stage one.

Appeals at this level should be made within 14 days of the date on the letter advising the outcome of the stage one appeal decision.

To assist with the investigation of the appeal, please supply any further supporting evidence that was not supplied during the stage one appeal.  The new information and any other information supplied previously will be reviewed by council's delegated independent officer.

Send the additional information and a letter explaining your desire to seek a review by council's delegated independent officer to the CEO of Mackay Regional Council.  

Council's delegated independent officer will let you know in writing if the fine still stands or if it has been waived.

Stage two is council's final decision on the appeal.

Stage Three - External Review

If you have exhausted previous stages and the fine still stands and you disagree with the decisions, you can seek an external review.

The external review is conducted through the Magistrates Court.  See the back of the infringement notice for details.