Request a local laws or animal fine review
If you have recently received a local laws or animal fine from Merri-bek Council, by law you can request only one internal review of your fine, which means you need to provide all the relevant details to help us make a decision.
When to appeal
You must lodge a review within 28 days of receiving the fine.
What grounds can I request a review under?
Infringements legislation provides the following five review categories:
- Contrary to law: you believe you didn’t commit an offence.
- Exceptional circumstances: there were unforeseen and verifiable circumstances outside of your control that could excuse your conduct.
- Mistaken identity: you believe the fine was issued to the incorrect person or vehicle. For example, you weren’t in the alleged location.
- Special circumstances: this is a specific term defined in infringements legislation, where a person is unable to either understand or control the conduct that led to the offence due to:
- a mental or intellectual disability, disorder, disease or illness
- a serious addiction to drugs, alcohol or a volatile substance
- homelessness
- family violence.
- Person unaware: you didn’t receive the fine because you changed your address with VicRoads around the same time you incurred the fine.
In this case, you need to appeal within 14 days of becoming aware and provide evidence that you weren't aware. If you changed address, you must have notified VicRoads within 14 days of moving. Council will not withdraw the infringement on this ground but will consider waiving additional costs incurred.
More information is available on the Victorian Government Fines Victoria website.
How to apply for a review
All reviews must be done in writing – we can’t review your fine over the phone or in person. We’re unable to review fines that have already been paid.
Information you need to provide
You need to provide all relevant information and supporting documentation to Council when you request a review.
If insufficient information is provided, we may not accept the review or we may contact you for additional details. If this information is not received by the specified date, a decision will be made based on the information we have.
Apply in writing
Request a review of a local laws or animal fine online. This will take about 5 to 20 minutes to complete. Please have supporting documents ready before you start.
Alternatively, complete the Application for Internal Review form (DOC 64Kb). Include your name and postal address, the infringement notice number, vehicle registration number, an explanation of why you believe the infringement notice should be reviewed and any supporting documentation.
Post to Merri-bek City Council, Locked Bag 10, Merri-bek 3058 or deliver to a Customer Service Centre.
The Mayor and Councillors are unable to have any involvement in Council's administrative functions and are therefore unable to influence or respond to infringement notices or appeals.
What happens after you apply
By law, Council has up to 90 days to respond to an appeal.
When we receive an appeal, the infringement is placed on hold. You are not required to pay the fine or do anything during the review period.
When we carry out an internal review of an infringement, we consider all available information, including:
- information collected by the issuing officer
- circumstances outlined in your request
- supporting documentation provided, and
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requirements under the relevant legislation.
Once a decision is made, Council advises you of the outcome. Should the infringement be upheld, you will be advised of a new payment date.
At this time, if you do not pay the infringement by the due date or request a payment extension from Council, you incur additional costs.
You may elect to have the matter dealt with in the Magistrates Court. You need to notify Council in writing Merri-bek City Council, Locked Bag 10 Merri-bek 3058.