Appeal your Traffic Fine

Sligo County Council Traffic Fine Appeals Policy

Introduction

Sligo County Council is committed to ensuring fairness and transparency in the enforcement of traffic and parking regulations. This policy sets out a clear and simple process by which individuals may appeal a traffic fine issued by the Council.

Legal Basis

This policy applies to traffic fines (also referred to as Fixed Charge Notices) issued by or on behalf of Sligo County Council for offences such as illegal parking or other road traffic violations within the Council's jurisdiction.

Traffic fines are issued in accordance with:

  • Sligo County Council Parking Bye-Laws, which regulate parking within the administrative area of the Council.
  • National Road Traffic Regulations, including statutory provisions concerning illegal parking (e.g. parking on double yellow lines, footpaths, or in loading bays).

All motorists are responsible for familiarising themselves with and complying with these bye-laws and national regulations when parking within Sligo.

Appeals Will Not be Accepted for any of the Following Offences:

  1. Parking on Double Yellow Lines
  2. Parking in a manner likely to cause an obstruction, e.g. parking on a footpath or on a corner.
  3. Parking in a Disabled Bay without displaying a valid Disability Permit
  4. Parking a vehicle in a manner prohibited, i.e. parking outside a marked bay in a public car park or in a hatched area in a public car park.
  5. Parking in a place prohibited, e.g. a Bus Bay, Taxi Rank or Residents Only Area.
  6. Parking in a Loading Bay without displaying a commercial tax disc, for longer than the time allowed.
  7. Not displaying a valid parking ticket, permit, or disc when required
  8. Overstaying the permitted time in time-limited or loading areas
  9. Failure to have the correct payment method for the pay and display machine or parking system (e.g. no coins, card not accepted, app not installed). It is the responsibility of the motorist to ensure they have the correct means to pay before parking.
  10. Or any other form of illegal parking

If you have reviewed the above and still wish to lodge an appeal, please see the appeal process outlined below.

 

Appeal Process

There are two stages to the appeal process:

Stage 1: Initial Appeal

Timeframe:

Appeals must be submitted within 14 days of the date on the Fixed Charge Notice.

Submission Method:

Appeals can be submitted:

Information Required:
  • Full name and contact details
  • Vehicle registration number
  • Fixed Charge Notice number
  • Grounds for appeal with any supporting documentation (e.g. photos, receipts)
Assessment:

Appeals will be reviewed by an authorised Officer of the Council not involved in the original issuing of the fine.

Decision:

A written response will be issued within 20 working days from the date of receipt of appeal.

Stage 2: Second Appeal

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the initial appeal, a second appeal can be made.

Timeframe:

Must be submitted within 14 days of receiving the Stage 1 Appeal decision.

Submission Method:

Same as Stage 1 (online, email, or in writing).

Review:

The second appeal will be reviewed by a more senior officer within the Council.

Decision:

A final decision will be issued within 20 working days. This decision is final, and no further internal appeal will be considered.

General Notes

  • All appeals must be submitted in writing and be clearly legible. Traffic fines will be placed on hold while the appeal is in progress.
  • The outcome of the appeal may include upholding or cancelling the fine.
  • If the appeal is upheld, the fine will be cancelled and no payment will be required.
  • If the appeal is not upheld or is rejected, payment must be made within the remaining time on the Fixed Charge Notice, starting from the date of the decision.
  • Failure to pay within the allowed time may result in the fine increasing or being referred for court proceedings.
  • Appeals received outside the allowed timeframes will be deemed invalid.
Appeal your Traffic Fine (SECURE)