Municipal parking fine (Tbilisi, Batumi): what to do under Georgian law

What to do

1. Deadlines: a decision or receipt is appealed within 10 days of its service; a late appeal for a valid reason may be restored (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 273); a fine under a receipt is paid within 30 days of its service (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 290⁴). Service by photo: a receipt that could not be delivered twice is published on the website and is considered served on the 30th day (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 290⁴); a receipt is considered served if an adult family member has twice refused to accept it (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 290⁴). “I did not receive the letter” does not extend the deadline.
2. Which city and which offence: Tbilisi: parking in a parking space without paying the fee set by the Sakrebulo carries a fine of GEL 50 (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 125²); Batumi (current version): parking without paying the fee carries a fine of GEL 50 (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 125³). Check: whether the parking is paid and the zone is marked, and whether the number, time and zone match the payment in the app.
3. Who is liable: without the driver, or on the basis of a photo, the fine is payable by the person to whom the vehicle registration certificate was last issued (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 290⁴). A tourist in a rented car: the receipt goes to the owner (the rental company), and then the matter is settled under the rental agreement.
4. Where: cases are considered by the municipal unit designated by the Sakrebulo (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 209³); a fine is appealed to the higher authority (official), and its decision can be appealed to court (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 272); no state duty is payable for the appeal (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 272). Argument: the burden of proving the offence lies with the authority; demand the photo, time and payment data (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 236).
5. No need to dispute when paying: if the fine is paid within 10 calendar days of the SMS or the receipt extract, it is reduced by 20% (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 290⁵). Non-payment: Tbilisi: if the fine is not paid on time, penalty interest (საურავი) accrues at twice the amount of the fine (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 125²); Batumi: non-payment on time of the fine for unpaid parking carries penalty interest of GEL 150 (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 125³). Towing: Tbilisi: a vehicle left unpaid for more than 12 hours may be towed away or have its wheels locked if the sign carries such a marking (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 125²).
6. Where to apply: the municipal unit that issued the receipt (appeal to the higher authority through it), then the district (city) court.
7. Evidence: receipt or SMS with the number and date; payment receipt or payment history in the app (vehicle number, zone code, time); photos of the place and signs; rental or purchase agreement for the vehicle.
8. Traps: thinking that an unreceived letter stops the deadline: the receipt is considered served even without personal receipt. If you have a parking payment receipt, do not pay the fine “for the discount” without filing an appeal within the 10-day deadline. Do not confuse a municipal fine with a fine from patrol police: they have different authorities and elements of the offence.

Be sure to check

• 10-day appeal deadline from service, and the rules on when a receipt is “considered served”
• where to appeal (higher authority of the municipality, then court), no state duty, what to check (zone, payment, number)
• 20% discount for payment within 10 days, 30-day payment deadline, and penalty interest (საურავი) for non-payment
• liability of the vehicle owner based on photo, and towing or wheel locking