<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/victoria" rel="" target="_blank" title="Victorian"><span>Victorian</span></a><span> council will roll out refunds after discovering an administrative error resulted in drivers </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-merribek-city-council-to-repay-millions-in-overcharged-parking-fines-after-admitting-to-admin-blunder/aa387ffc-e5f6-4901-8098-5afeaaff674d" rel="" target="" title="overpaying on parking fines"><span>overpaying on parking fines</span></a><span> dating back to 2009.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mansfield Shire Council, located north-east of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="_blank" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span>, has apologised to impacted motorists and said it is exploring a refund scheme for fines issued over a 10-year period between 2009 and 2019.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The council had been issuing parking infringements between 0.2 and 0.5 penalty units, which amounts to $41 and $102.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-increases-military-pressure-on-iran-ahead-of-talks/22330d65-102d-4034-983f-30de6d0dd560" target="_blank" title="US increases military pressure on Iran ahead of key talks"><strong><span>US increases military pressure on Iran ahead of key talks</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/billionaire-les-wexner-says-he-was-duped-by-adviser-jeffrey-epstein-a-worldclass-con-man/7fa7dd1f-5306-4269-a43c-d12fbad4f9c2" rel="" target="_blank" title="Billionaire says he was duped by 'world-class con man' Epstein"><strong><span>Billionaire says he was duped by 'world-class con man' Epstein</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Road Safety Act 1986 requires local government penalties to be set at the default $41 fine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A formal council resolution is required before officers can issue the higher amount.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/victoria-council-to-issue-refunds-over-historic-parking-fine-administrative-error/be4b0315-db03-4b98-b0d4-c5c23db40b67" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Instead, the council had been issuing $102 infringement notices for 11 different types of infringements during this time period without a resolution.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Unfortunately, the need for a formal resolution was not adequately communicated to councils in Victoria in 2009 or in 2019 when the guidelines were changed," Mansfield Shire Council said in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An estimated $34,588 in fines had been collected above the default penalty rate, which amounts to around 765 fines dating as far back as 2009.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another $10,000 may have also been paid in legal costs or late fees.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mayor Councillor Steve Rabie said the council is committed to rectifying the issue.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/the-super-mistake-which-could-cost-young-aussies-128000/d66a4595-f0a7-4076-8f7a-1a04f06af272"><strong><span>The super mistake which could cost young Aussies $128,000</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are not scared to address errors. We've identified an issue and we will fix it," Rabie said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I have every confidence that the current team will work quickly to rectify these legacy issues. We know the community trusts us and we will work to maintain that trust."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If this has affected anybody – we are sorry."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rabie said the discrepancy was "disappointing because it's an avoidable situation".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's a small amount of money over many years," he added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Mansfield Shire Council has not sought to make money on parking fines – we use fines to ensure fair use of parking resources for the community as a whole."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The council said it will continue to investigate the matter and has sought legal advice to confirm the amount that had been overpaid.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Drivers who are eligible for a refund should expect to be contacted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>