We know receiving a fine is stressful and frustrating â especially when you're not sure why it happened or what to do next. This article walks you through exactly what to expect and what steps you can take.
Why did I receive a parking or traffic fine?
Parking or speeding fines are issued by law enforcement, parking waiters or roadside camera's if the vehicle was improperly parked, exceeds speed limits, or violates traffic regulations during or after your trip. Poppy acts as an intermediary to notify users of fines linked to their trips and provide administrative support as needed, such as identifying drivers and processing charges.
You can park anywhere (legally), but if a regular car receives a fine or is towed there, the same applies to a Poppy vehicle!
What should I do after receiving a fine?
Follow the instructions in the fine document and pay the fine directly to the municipality before the specified deadline (NOT if it's a reminder). The payment details are provided in the document. đ© Traffic fines typically arrive via postal mail at your home address with specific payment instructions. To prevent missing notifications, regularly check your primary email inbox and spam folders for updates from Poppy.
For processing the fine, we charge an administrative fee through your Poppy account. This amount will be deducted from your account within 7 days. This administrative fee is charged to cover Poppyâs efforts in pre-paying the fine to authorities and processing it on your behalf.
If your dispute is accepted and the fine is annulled, Poppy will refund any administrative fees charged in relation to the fine. To ensure this, provide the written confirmation of the annulment to Poppy.
Did you receive a reminder for a fine?
We have already paid the fine to the authorities on your behalf, as stated in the email you received. You do not need to pay it yourself. This pre-payment is done to avoid additional late penalties from the authorities, ensuring a smoother experience for users.
We will charge the fine, along with the administrative fee, through your Poppy account. The amount will be deducted from your account within 7 days. This ensures the fine and associated administrative costs are handled promptly, avoiding further complications.
If your dispute is successful and the fine is annulled, Poppy will refund the administrative fee. Ensure you provide the necessary documentation to Poppy for processing the refund.
Understanding Delays in Notifications
Often, local authorities or police experience delays in preparing and transmitting official fine details to Poppy. This means some fines may only reach Poppy and subsequently the end user several months after the incident.
Can I contest the fine?
If you believe the fine was issued incorrectly or wish to dispute it, you have the right to do so. However, please note that disputes can only be made up until the payment deadline mentioned on the fine.
You can dispute the fine yourself by contacting the relevant authority directly. Youâll find their contact details on the fine notice.
When disputing, gather supporting evidence such as photos of the location, proof of parking payment, or screenshots of trip details. Submit these along with your dispute to the relevant authority as per the instructions on the fine document.
Not working out? While Poppy cannot submit disputes on your behalf, we're happy to help. Send us a message via the in-app live chat and we can assist with forwarding forms, providing trip details, or clarifying the charge â just reach out and we'll do our best to support you.
đĄ Important information:
To avoid fines, follow traffic rules, parking regulations, and speed limits. Review our parking policy in the FAQ for a smoother experience.
Always double-check local parking signs and restrictions, even within Poppy zones.
Use the Poppy app to confirm allowed parking areas. - Drivers are responsible for ensuring the chosen parking spaces comply with legal and local parking regulations, whether in paid or free zones.
Ensure parked vehicles are neither obstructive nor dangerous to avoid towing charges or fines.