After a decline

Dispute declined — what now?

A decline letter isn't the end of the road. You have a statutory right to put the matter before a court — and sometimes the smart move is to take it, sometimes it's to pay and move on. Here's the honest picture, and the letter that exercises the right, free.

Your three options

1. Pay it.If the decline reasons are solid and your grounds were always thin, paying before the due date ends it cleanly — no court costs, no escalation. There's no shame in this; most declined disputes should end here.
2. Request a court hearing. Under section 21 of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957 you can deny liability and have the matter heard in the District Court — or admit liability and ask the court to consider submissions on penalty. The request must be in writing, within 28 days of the reminder notice (check the dates in the decline letter). At a hearing, the issuer must prove the offence — and the records you requested in your dispute become discoverable evidence.
3. Get a lawyer — for criminal matters (court summons, drink-driving, dangerous driving), licence suspension, or anywhere the stakes outgrow the fine. See our traffic lawyer directory or Community Law.

Be honest with yourself first

Court makes sense when you have a genuine defence— the evidence doesn't show your vehicle, the records don't exist, the procedure demonstrably failed. It rarely makes sense as a protest: costs can be added if you lose, and a hearing takes a morning of your life. If your dispute was declined on the facts and the facts are against you, option 1 is the win.

The hearing-request letter — free

Fill in your details and the letter assembles itself below — nothing is uploaded or stored, it never leaves your browser. Send it to the issuer (the same place your dispute went) before the deadline, and keep a copy.

Full nameNotice numberPostal addressIssuing authority (from your notice)

[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]

[DATE]

To: [ISSUING AUTHORITY — as shown on your notice]

RE: Infringement Notice [NOTICE NUMBER] — request for court hearing

I deny liability for the alleged offence in the above infringement notice, and I request a court hearing under section 21 of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957.

Please refer the matter to the District Court and confirm receipt of this request in writing.

Yours faithfully,

_____________________
[YOUR FULL NAME]
Date: [DATE]

Had your outcome recorded yet? Reporting waived or declined in your case tracker keeps our estimates honest for the next person. Related: how the Police Infringement Bureau decides · NZTA camera notices

GetMeOff.co.nz provides automated document drafting and general information only — it is not legal advice and no outcome is guaranteed. Court proceedings carry real risk; for anything beyond an ordinary infringement, talk to a lawyer.