Appealing a Fine When Payment Equipment Failed
If a parking ticket machine or pay-and-display meter was broken, out of order, rejected coins, or the cashless phone app (RingGo, PayByPhone, MiPermit) suffered a server outage, you are legally protected under the doctrine of impossibility and procedural fairness.
Doctrine of Impossibility (Lex Non Cogit Ad Impossibilia)
The law does not compel a motorist to perform an impossibility. If the issuing authority or operator failed to maintain functioning payment equipment, they cannot penalise a driver for non-payment where no viable alternative existed.
Step 1: Evidence Required
- Photo of the machine display: Showing "Out of Order", blank screen, or coin slot jammed.
- Machine identification number: Located on the front or side of the meter.
- Screenshots of App errors: Showing timeout errors, transaction failed notifications, or network failure logs from PayByPhone / RingGo.
- Call logs / SMS logs: If you attempted to call the automated IVR payment line.
Step 2: Appeal Strategy
- For Council PCNs: Cite procedural failure and request the council's maintenance log for the meter on the date in question. Councils are required to keep audit records of reported machine faults.
- For Private PCNs: State that payment was frustrated due to operator equipment failure, and cite BPA Code Clause 18.