How do I pay the infringement?
Can I pay by instalments?
What if someone else was driving my car?
Can I ask for a review?
Can I elect a court hearing?
What happens if I do nothing?
Forms

If an infringement notice is incurred, offenders have 28 days to pay or request a review of the notice.

Gladstone Regional Council is responsible for the administration of a number of laws in the Gladstone Region including several State laws and Council’s local laws.  Council officers may issue infringement notices to members of the public who breach any of these laws.

Fines vary according to the Code of Offences and various Legislation Council is authorised to enforce.

Section - Development Services  Section - Local Laws, Environmental Health & Biosecurity

How do I pay the infringement?

Payment in full should be made within 28 days of issue of the infringement notice by any of the following methods:

Online

You will need to reference the infringement number, located on the infringement notice.

In person

Payment can be made in person at any Council Administration Centre or Rural Transaction Centre by cash, EFTPOS, credit card (AMEX accepted), cheque or money order.  Please bring the infringement notice with you.

By post

You can return the infringement notice with a cheque or money order only for the full amount to Gladstone Regional Council, PO Box 29 Gladstone QLD 4680.

Can I pay by instalments?

Where the infringement notice is over $200.00 you may apply to pay by instalments (s23 State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999) within 28 days from the date the notice was issued.

• To apply complete the Voluntary Payment Plan Application Form and include valid photo identification and $60.00 payment must be made with the application
• Please note that the application form must be completed by the person whose name appears on the infringement notice
• State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) will contact you directly about a payment plan for the remaining balance of the infringement amount
• Entering into a $60 payment plan with SPER via Council, requires a payment of $60 per month to SPER until the fine is paid
• SPER may charge additional costs in excess of the fine.

Parking infringements – what if someone else was driving my car?

If the vehicle is registered in your name, as owner you have committed the offence. Within 28 days of the date of the issue of the infringement notice you may send Council a statutory declaration swearing/affirming that the vehicle:

• Was being used illegally
• Was being used by another person, nominating the name and address of that person
• Was being used by an unidentified person
• Had been sold or otherwise disposed of.

 The infringement is to be returned to Council with the statutory declaration and must be witnessed by a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner. The name and current address of the person in charge of the vehicle at the time of the alleged offence and should include the infringement notice number and vehicle registration details.

Council will notify you of withdrawal of the infringement notice and reissue to the subject person (if identified). Alternatively, Council will advise that the infringement notice is not withdrawn.

If the vehicle has joint owners, the infringement notice can be issued to either of the joint owners individually.

Can I ask for a review?

If you believe the infringement notice has been unlawfully issued you can make application for review.  Application must be received by Council within 28 days of the date of issue of the infringement notice. An infringement will not be withdrawn if it was lawfully issued and there is no legal basis for it to be withdrawn. A dog or cat owner must also pay the renewal registration before the period of registration for the dog or cat expires, whether or not a renewal notice is received, so an infringement notice will not be withdrawn if the owner claims not to have received a renewal notice.

Requests must be submitted using the Application for Request of Review – Infringement Notice form only, signed by the recipient of the infringement notice and sent to:

The Chief Executive Officer
Gladstone Regional Council
PO Box 29
Gladstone Qld 4680

info@gladstone.qld.gov.au

Council will advise the recipient of its decision and outline if further action is required.

Can I elect a court hearing?

You may elect a court hearing by completing the election on the reverse side of the infringement notice and return to Council within 28 days of the infringement notice being issued.

When considering whether to have the matter dealt with by the Court, please consider that the Court may in addition to any penalty imposed, award costs against you if you lose the case.  Council would strongly encourage you to seek legal advice before formally electing to have the matter heard in the Magistrates Court.

What happens if I do nothing?

If you do nothing within 28 days of issue of the infringement notice, a reminder letter will be sent to you.  In the case of parking offences, further costs will be charged for a vehicle registration search to identify the vehicle’s owner.

For payments not received by the due date, the infringement will be registered with State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) for recovery action. Once an infringement is registered with SPER, you can no longer arrange payment through Council.

For more information about SPER, please visit their website www.sper.qld.gov.au