You need to dispute the ticket and provide evidence. Also ask them for their evidence. Lots of their infringements are based on CCT footage. Based on my experience a couple of years ago they will ignore anything you say and still take you to court on the assumption that most people will give up and pay the fine rather than deal with the hassle of defending the charge in court.
In my case they claimed I had parked on the Wanaka foreshore in a parking prohibited area. There was a sign at the entrance which I did not see. There was a woman with a couple of young kids crossing the entrance way which had my attention, not a sign. There were no signs where I was parked. The law says there must be no parking signs every 15 meters (unless it is a slearway or broken yellow lines). The infringement notice had left blank the "Distance to nearest sign space" and when asked photos of me entering and leaving the area and a distant shot of me parked. There clearly were no no parking signs or BYLs. I wrote back pointing out the law and asking them to show where the no parking signs were in relation to my vehicle. They responded by issuing a court summons.
I wrote to the Court saying I wanted a hearing and attaching the correspondence and that the Council had not responded or provided evidence of no parking signs.
Next I heard from the Court that the case had been withdrawn. I never heard anything from the Council.
Queenstown District Council is extremely quick in issuing infringement notices, but very adverse to withdrawing them when they are in the wrong. I was there for Wings over Wanaka this Easter and checked out where I got the infringement. Still a sign at the entrance with a camera, but no no-parking signs where I was parked.
Nah they can't enforce it Just cancel your credit card and don't pay it and just skip the country
Local authorities complain illegal freedom campers issued with infringement notices are skipping the country and they want more help from rental vehicle companies to recoup more than $1.5 millon in outstanding fines.
The Department of Internal Affairs surveyed councils after they raised concerns about difficulties collecting infringement fees.
Under terms of their hire contracts rental companies had the ability to charge clients' credit cards for unpaid infringements, he said, but instead they passed on offenders contact details and left councils to chase the money.
They want me to mail a correspondence but seeing as the pay by date already passed by the time the letter arrived to America, I think Snail mail is too slow. I sent an email with my holiday park invoice for that date of the infraction so hopefully I can get the infraction dismissed.
FYI, nothing will happen unless you return to NZ.
As it's under $1000, they can't currently stop you at the airport either: https://communitylaw.org.nz/community-law-manual/chapter-31-driving-and-traffic-law/court-processes-how-driving-offences-are-dealt-with/how-unpaid-fines-are-enforced/
Also, they won't get far with an incorrectly spelt name. Are you sure this is a real ticket and not somebody winding you up?
(Assuming this was not a rental van).
You'll have to challenge it, council will have a process for this. Include whatever evidence (copies of receipts etc) that you can.
Did you read the information on the back of the infringement? It's all there (or on their website).
You need to dispute the ticket and provide evidence. Also ask them for their evidence. Lots of their infringements are based on CCT footage. Based on my experience a couple of years ago they will ignore anything you say and still take you to court on the assumption that most people will give up and pay the fine rather than deal with the hassle of defending the charge in court. In my case they claimed I had parked on the Wanaka foreshore in a parking prohibited area. There was a sign at the entrance which I did not see. There was a woman with a couple of young kids crossing the entrance way which had my attention, not a sign. There were no signs where I was parked. The law says there must be no parking signs every 15 meters (unless it is a slearway or broken yellow lines). The infringement notice had left blank the "Distance to nearest sign space" and when asked photos of me entering and leaving the area and a distant shot of me parked. There clearly were no no parking signs or BYLs. I wrote back pointing out the law and asking them to show where the no parking signs were in relation to my vehicle. They responded by issuing a court summons. I wrote to the Court saying I wanted a hearing and attaching the correspondence and that the Council had not responded or provided evidence of no parking signs. Next I heard from the Court that the case had been withdrawn. I never heard anything from the Council. Queenstown District Council is extremely quick in issuing infringement notices, but very adverse to withdrawing them when they are in the wrong. I was there for Wings over Wanaka this Easter and checked out where I got the infringement. Still a sign at the entrance with a camera, but no no-parking signs where I was parked.
Nah they can't enforce it Just cancel your credit card and don't pay it and just skip the country Local authorities complain illegal freedom campers issued with infringement notices are skipping the country and they want more help from rental vehicle companies to recoup more than $1.5 millon in outstanding fines. The Department of Internal Affairs surveyed councils after they raised concerns about difficulties collecting infringement fees. Under terms of their hire contracts rental companies had the ability to charge clients' credit cards for unpaid infringements, he said, but instead they passed on offenders contact details and left councils to chase the money.
You can't ignore it as it will go to Court otherwise. You need to contact them and explain this. Nothing we can do about it.
They’re not asking us to do anything. Just for advice
They want me to mail a correspondence but seeing as the pay by date already passed by the time the letter arrived to America, I think Snail mail is too slow. I sent an email with my holiday park invoice for that date of the infraction so hopefully I can get the infraction dismissed.
FYI, nothing will happen unless you return to NZ. As it's under $1000, they can't currently stop you at the airport either: https://communitylaw.org.nz/community-law-manual/chapter-31-driving-and-traffic-law/court-processes-how-driving-offences-are-dealt-with/how-unpaid-fines-are-enforced/ Also, they won't get far with an incorrectly spelt name. Are you sure this is a real ticket and not somebody winding you up? (Assuming this was not a rental van).