Merri-bek City Council has announced a new Parking Fines Refund Scheme set to go live in early July 2025. The scheme targets motorists who were fined for 11 specific minor parking offences between 1 July 2013 and 11 June 2025.
Dylan Anderson
Administrative Error Identified
Under the Road Safety Act 1986, councils are allowed to charge up to 0.5 penalty units for certain parking infringements if a formal council resolution is in place. However, Merri-bek Council recently discovered it had been charging 0.5 penalty units for 11 categories of infringements without a valid resolution since the 2012/13 financial year. The oversight, due to an administrative error in 2013, was only identified recently.
Although the infringements were issued lawfully to drivers who violated parking rules, the higher penalty amounts charged lacked the required authorisation.
Refund Eligibility and Process
The refund applies to motorists who paid fines for the 11 affected infringement types during the specified period. Eligible recipients will be able to apply for a refund of the overcharged amount, which ranges from $45 to $59 depending on the year the fine was issued.
To claim a refund, applicants will need to provide their infringement number or, if unavailable, supply vehicle registration details along with proof of ownership or use at the time of the fine. Refunds will be issued via direct bank transfer.
List of Affected Infringement Types
The refund applies to the following parking offences:
- Parked for period longer than indicated
- Parked fail to pay & obey instructions on sign
- Stopped contrary to a No Parking sign
- Stopped on a bicycle parking area
- Stopped on a motor bike parking area
- Parked contrary to requirement of parking area
- Parked not at an angle of 45 degrees
- Parked not at an angle of 90 degrees
- Parked not completely within a parking bay
- Parked long vehicle exceed minimum number of bays
- Parked wide vehicle exceed minimum number of bays
Dylan Anderson
Offences Not Affected
More serious infringements involving road safety risks, such as parking in a loading zone, clearway, no stopping zone, or disability parking space, are unaffected. These categories have fixed penalties set by statute and were charged correctly.
Council Clarifies Purpose of Fines
While parking fines remain a necessary enforcement tool to manage traffic, ensure parking turnover, and enhance road safety, the revenue collected from these fines is reinvested into community services, infrastructure upgrades, and asset maintenance. The refund scheme addresses only the overcharged portion resulting from the administrative oversight.
Dylan Anderson
Dylan Anderson
