Many drivers pay the fine without reading the official report carefully. Sometimes that is the right choice. But the official report is an administrative act and must meet the conditions set by law. When it does not, the fine can be challenged.
When an appeal has grounds:
1. The notice came late. When the driver is not stopped on the spot, the Road Code sets a deadline within which the fine must be notified to the owner of the vehicle. A late notice is among the strongest grounds for appeal.
2. The official report contains errors. The date, time, place, number plate, type of vehicle or the provision breached do not match the facts.
3. The vehicle was not yours. It had been sold, leased or stolen at the time of the offence.
4. There is no evidence. For camera and radar fines, ask for the photos or the recording. The authority that imposed the fine must prove the offence.
5. The measuring device was not verified. Radars and breathalysers must have a valid metrological verification.
6. The fine is too old. The law sets a time limit after which an unpaid fine can no longer be enforced.
When it is not worth it. When the offence is clear and proven, paying promptly at the reduced amount is often the best solution. When the offence is a criminal offence, the matter is not resolved by an appeal against the fine.
What to keep from the start:
- the official report or the fine notice;
- the envelope, email or message showing when you received it;
- the vehicle documents, the sale contract or the lease contract;
- photos of the place, when road signs were unclear or missing.
How to appeal. The appeal goes to the police body that examines appeals against fines. If it is rejected, the decision can be challenged in court. Deadlines are short, so act as soon as you receive the fine.