Yes. You can ask for an ACT parking fine to be withdrawn by applying in writing, with your grounds, within 28 days of the notice. The administering authority decides: the Road Transport Authority through Access Canberra, or the Chief Police Officer for police offences. Access Canberra assesses applications against the Road Transport (General) Withdrawal of Infringement Notices Guidelines 2019, which say a parking notice must be withdrawn on some grounds, such as a valid ticket or permit, a faulty meter or a breakdown. A reminder notice gives you another 28 days.
| Who decides | How to apply | Deadline | If refused | Going to court |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Road Transport Authority (through Access Canberra), or the Chief Police Officer for police offences | In writing, stating your grounds, on the online Traffic and Parking Infringements Applications form | Within 28 days of the notice, or of the reminder notice; you can apply for more time | Internal review, then the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) | Written notice disputing liability within the same 28 days; the matter can go to the ACT Magistrates Court, and “you may receive a criminal conviction” |
Prepared by Claim Done from the official sources listed below. Last checked 7 November 2026.
Who issued your fine
An ACT parking fine is an infringement notice from Access Canberra (the Road Transport Authority) or from ACT Policing, and both run under the same law. A notice can be given “in person, by a parking inspector or police officer”, left on your car, or “sent to you in the mail”. The body that decides your application is the “administering authority”: the road transport authority for the offences listed in s 8 of the Road Transport (Offences) Regulation 2005, and the Chief Police Officer for the rest.
A private car park notice is different
A notice from a private car park operator is not an ACT government infringement notice: it is a private demand under a contract. ACT law describes a “private car park fee” as “an amount alleged to be payable under the terms of a contract, arrangement or understanding for the use of a car park”. Do not ignore it; dispute it with the operator in writing. The road transport authority “cannot be required to comply with a preliminary discovery order” sought to identify or locate you for a proceeding to recover such a fee (Road Transport (General) Act 1999, s 236). Use our Private Parking Notice Dispute letter ($29), and read private car park fines in Australia.
Grounds that get parking fines withdrawn in the ACT
The ACT withdrawal guidelines list parking grounds on which the authority “must withdraw” a notice, plus general grounds that apply to every offence. Access Canberra assesses your application against the Road Transport (General) Withdrawal of Infringement Notices Guidelines 2019 (DI2019-211).
Parking grounds where withdrawal is mandatory
| Ground | What to show | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| You held a valid permit or ticket | The permit or ticket and “the steps the person took to display it correctly”; the authority must be satisfied you took “reasonable steps” | A copy of the ticket or permit; your ACT Mobility Parking Permit number; or the front and back of an interstate Mobility Parking Permit. A passenger permit holder can make a statutory declaration. |
| You paid | Proof of payment | The ticket, or a receipt from an authorised smartphone app |
| The ticket machine or meter was faulty | The fault, and that you took reasonable steps to use other means | Photos of the machine or meter and any error screen, with the time |
| Your permit had just expired | It “had recently expired and a new parking permit had been issued”, or you had applied or paid for one | The new permit, or the application or payment record |
| The signs changed after you parked | “the signage that applied to the area was changed after they parked” | Dated photos of the signs; evidence of when you parked |
| A medical emergency | You were “unable to return to the vehicle before the timed parking expired due to an unexpected medical emergency” | A hospital record, a police report, or a letter signed by a registered health practitioner |
| Police or emergency services | You were directed to park by an emergency services worker, arrested and unable to move the car, or “assisting Police as a witness and overstayed the time limit” | Names, dates and any reference number |
| Your car broke down | “The vehicle had broken down or otherwise became immobilised” | Roadside assistance or towing records, or a detailed mechanical report; possibly a statutory declaration |
General grounds that apply to every offence
| Ground | What to show | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative or technical reasons | A sign, signal or device “missing, defective or malfunctioning”, or an error in the notice: vehicle, personal details, offence description, “date, time and or location”, penalty, or “identifying particulars of the authorised person” | Photos of the sign or markings from where you parked; the notice with the error marked |
| Insufficient evidence | The evidence does not support the offence; the authority “should withdraw” | A clear statement of what is missing |
| Defence or exemption | For example, the vehicle was sold before the offence, or the vehicle or plates were stolen | Sale or transfer papers; a police report |
| Exceptional circumstances | An “Emergency situation or similar event as opposed to a diagnosed condition or late for an appointment”, “Unexpected trauma”, or an “Unforeseen or unpreventable circumstance” | A statement detailing the circumstances, with supporting evidence attached; both are required |
| Prior good record | No parking offences in recent years | A statutory declaration with your licence number, the state or territory that issued it, and that you have not incurred any parking related offences in the last 5 years |
“Disagreeing with a law, or finding it inconvenient, to adhere to it are not grounds for having an infringement notice withdrawn.”
Some parking offences are “generally considered unsuitable for withdrawal”: “parking contrary to, or without a mobility parking scheme authority”; “stopping in or near an intersection, children’s crossing or pedestrian crossing”; stopping contrary to a “no stopping” sign; and “stopping in parking area for disabled”. That is not an absolute bar, but a withdrawal for these is unlikely.
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Deadlines and what happens while it is reviewed
You have 28 days to pay or take another option, and a reminder notice gives you another 28 days. In that time you can pay; apply for a management plan or a waiver; apply for withdrawal; give a declaration if you were not the person who committed the offence; or dispute liability (s 26(2)). The Act counts from the date the notice is served; Access Canberra says from the date it was issued. Work from the date on the notice.
- If you do nothing: “If you don’t do anything within 28 days, you’ll receive a reminder notice and a late fee.” After the reminder’s due date, “you may receive a suspension on your licence, or the vehicle involved in the offence.”
- More time: you can apply for an extension; a refusal must give reasons (s 29).
- While it is assessed: no official ACT page says a notice is put on hold while a withdrawal application is assessed. Lodge early.
- The decision: the authority must withdraw, refuse, or ask you in writing for more information, and must give written reasons for a refusal (s 35).
- After a refusal: you have until the later of “7 days after the applicant is given notice of the refusal” and 28 days after service to pay or take another option (s 37).
- If it is withdrawn: “the offence never happened”, and any amount you paid must be repaid unless it was in a management plan (s 36(4)(b)).
Already had a suspension notice? Access Canberra accepts “Out of time” applications from people who were incarcerated, interstate or overseas, in hospital or with a medical issue, or whose mail was stolen, with documents to prove it.
Evidence checklist
- The notice and any reminder notice, with the date on it circled.
- Photos of every sign and road marking that applied, taken from where you parked, with the date, and of anything blocking them.
- Photos of the meter or ticket machine, including any error screen.
- Your ticket, or the receipt or session record from an authorised smartphone app.
- Your permit number, or the front and back of an interstate permit.
- Roadside assistance, towing or mechanic records for a breakdown; hospital, police or health practitioner records for an emergency.
- Timestamps showing when you arrived and left, and any witness’s written account.
How to dispute an ACT parking fine: 4 steps
Step 1: Read the notice and diary the deadline
Find the notice number, offence, date, time, place and the date on the notice, and diary 28 days from it. Check every detail: a wrong vehicle, date, time or location is a ground on its own.
Step 2: Gather your evidence
Photograph the signs and markings as a driver would have seen them, and collect the documents in the checklist above.
Step 3: Lodge your application for withdrawal
Apply in writing and state your grounds. Access Canberra says: “Use the Traffic and Parking Infringements Applications form to make an application.” You, “A representative of the person served”, or a guardian can apply, and “An application can be made online.” Our $29 letter sets out the notice, your grounds in the guidelines’ terms and your numbered evidence, ready to paste into the form.
Dispute this parking fine – $29
Step 4: If it is refused
A refusal can go to internal review and then to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT). Apply in writing, with your name, address and reasons, within 28 days after you are given the internal review notice. Internal review “does not affect the operation of the decision”, so by the later of 7 days after the refusal and 28 days after service you must also pay, give a declaration, dispute liability, or apply for a management plan (instalments, or an approved community work or social development program) or a waiver based on your financial and personal circumstances. “A waiver can only be granted for the financial component”. If money is the problem, see our Fine Hardship and Payment Plan letter ($29).
Disputing liability is not a free second chance. You give written notice setting out your grounds within the 28 days. Access Canberra warns: “Applying to dispute liability means the matter will be heard in court if the infringement is not withdrawn.” It adds: “Access Canberra will register the matter with the ACT Magistrates Court within 60 days. If a Magistrate finds you guilty, you may receive a criminal conviction.” Under the Act, if the authority does not lay an information in the Magistrates Court within 60 days, it must tell you in writing that no further action will be taken, and take none (s 53). Paying before the hearing ends the proceeding if you also pay the prescribed costs of beginning it and any disbursements.
Questions people ask
Can I dispute a parking fine in the ACT?
Yes. You can apply in writing for an ACT parking fine to be withdrawn, stating your grounds, within 28 days of the notice or of a reminder notice. Access Canberra assesses applications against the Withdrawal of Infringement Notices Guidelines 2019. For some parking grounds, such as a valid ticket or a faulty meter, those guidelines say the notice must be withdrawn. You can also dispute liability, which can lead to court.
How long do I have to dispute a parking fine in the ACT?
You have 28 days. The Act counts from the date the notice is served, and Access Canberra counts from the date it was issued, so work from the date on the notice to be safe. If you miss it, the reminder notice gives another 28 days with the same options, and you can apply for an extension of time.
What happens if I lose a parking fine review?
You can ask for internal review of the refusal, and after that apply to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Internal review must be asked for in writing, with your name, address and reasons, within 28 days of the internal review notice. Meanwhile you must pay, enter a plan, seek a waiver or dispute liability by the later of 7 days after the refusal or 28 days after service.
The sign was hidden or missing – can I get the fine withdrawn?
You can ask, and a missing or defective sign is a listed ground. The ACT guidelines treat a sign, signal or device that is “missing, defective or malfunctioning” as an administrative or technical reason for withdrawal, and the notice must be withdrawn if the signs were changed after you parked. Photograph the sign from where you parked, with the date, and explain what you could see.
The meter or app was broken – what do I do?
Apply for withdrawal with evidence of the fault and of what else you tried. The ACT guidelines say a parking notice must be withdrawn where you show the ticket machine or meter was faulty and you took reasonable steps to use other means, or where you show you paid, with the ticket or a receipt from an authorised smartphone app. Screenshot the app record and note the times.
I have a mobility parking permit – can the fine be withdrawn?
Yes, if you show the permit you held and the steps you took to display it correctly, and the authority is satisfied you took reasonable steps. Give the number of your ACT Mobility Parking Permit, or a copy of the front and back of an interstate one. A passenger who holds the permit can make a statutory declaration that they were in the vehicle.
The notice has the wrong car or wrong details – what can I do?
Apply for withdrawal: errors in the notice are a listed ground. The ACT guidelines name an incorrect vehicle, personal details, offence description, date, time or location, penalty, or the identifying particulars of the authorised person. Mark the error on a copy of the notice and attach proof, such as your registration papers.
I got a parking fine from a private car park – is that a real fine?
No, it is not an ACT government infringement notice. It is a private operator’s demand for an amount it says is payable under a contract for using the car park. Do not ignore it: dispute it in writing with your reasons. In the ACT, the road transport authority cannot be required to comply with a preliminary discovery order made to help recover a private car park fee. Our Private Parking Notice Dispute letter is $29.
Will disputing a parking fine stop the late fees?
Not necessarily. No official ACT page says a fine is put on hold while a withdrawal application is assessed. If you do nothing within 28 days you get a reminder notice and a late fee. If your application is refused, you have until the later of 7 days after the refusal or 28 days after service. Lodge early, and apply for an extension of time if you need one.
Can I ask for a caution instead?
In the ACT you ask for withdrawal, and a prior good record is one of the listed grounds. For a parking fine, Access Canberra asks for a statutory declaration giving your driver licence number, the state or territory that issued it, and that you have had no parking related offences in the last 5 years. Some offences, such as stopping at a “no stopping” sign, are generally unsuitable for withdrawal.
Can I take a parking fine to court in the ACT?
Yes, by giving written notice disputing liability, with your grounds, within the 28 days. Access Canberra warns the matter will be heard in court if the notice is not withdrawn, that it will register the matter with the ACT Magistrates Court within 60 days, and that “you may receive a criminal conviction” if found guilty. If no proceeding is started within 60 days, the authority must take no further action.
Someone else had my car – who deals with the parking fine?
If you were not the person responsible, give an infringement notice declaration within the 28 days. Use the online declaration if you know the responsible person’s details; companies, and sold, stolen or unknown-driver cases, use the Traffic and Parking Infringements Applications form. A declaration is taken to be an application for withdrawal. A false or misleading statement in it is an offence.
I can’t afford to pay the parking fine – what are my options?
Apply within the 28 days for an infringement notice management plan or a waiver. A plan lets you pay by instalments or take part in an approved community work or social development program. A waiver application must set out your financial circumstances and your relevant circumstances, such as illness or disability. Entering a plan has the same effect as paying. Our Fine Hardship and Payment Plan letter is $29.
Related guides
- How to contest a speeding fine in the ACT
- Disputing a parking fine in every state and territory
- How to write a fine review request, by state
- Toll Notice Dispute ($29) and Fine Review Request, for toll notices and other ACT government fines
Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. Whether a fine is withdrawn is the administering authority’s decision.
Sources
- Access Canberra: traffic and parking fines (infringements), checked 7 November 2026
- Access Canberra: Traffic and Parking Infringements Applications form, checked 7 November 2026
- ACT Policing: infringements, checked 7 November 2026
- Road Transport (General) Act 1999 (ACT), Republication No 74, checked 7 November 2026
- Road Transport (General) Withdrawal of Infringement Notices Guidelines 2019 (No 1), DI2019-211, checked 7 November 2026
- Road Transport (General) Regulation 2000 (ACT), Republication No 64, checked 7 November 2026
What happens when you put it in writing — properly
Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.
Getting it drafted
Can I have a Parking Fine Dispute (ACT) drafted for me instead of writing it myself?
Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) drafts a Parking Fine Dispute (ACT) from the answers you give about your situation for a flat $29 AUD. You read and confirm the draft, then the final PDF is emailed to you. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=parking-fine-dispute-act. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How much does a Parking Fine Dispute (ACT) cost, and how long does it take?
$29 AUD flat, shown before you pay, with no subscription. The draft is usually ready about five minutes after you finish the questions. It covers every Australian state and territory.
Do I need a lawyer to send a Parking Fine Dispute (ACT) in Australia?
No. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to write or send a Parking Fine Dispute (ACT); many people send their own. Claim Done drafts it for you and you approve it before it is sent.