Want to beat a fine? Join the police force

Ever wondered the best way to get off a parking fine? Here's the answer - join the police force.

Of the 2,545 infringement notices issued to the police as a vehicle owner in 2007-08, 95 per cent were withdrawn on appeal.

According to the state's Auditor-General, who revealed the data in a report into infringement notices, the appeals were generally on the basis that officers were performing police duties and wanted an exemption from road rules.

The highly critical report, tabled in parliament yesterday, found "inconsistent decision making" within and between different groups that issue fines such as local councils and the police.

In one example, a driver who was overcome by dizziness and nausea was fined after stopping in a "no stopping area" to use a business' bathroom.

A doctor's report was provided and the infringement was withdrawn by the council.

By comparison, another driver who was fined for being stopped in a truck zone, called the council two hours later to explain she couldn't control her car because of severe morning sickness and had pulled over.

She provided a medical certificate in an appeal against the fine to confirm her condition but the fine was upheld.

Auditor-General Des Pearson's report also revealed agencies failing to follow their own procedures, incorrectly classifying appeals as well as failure to adequately verify claims.

While fines can be cancelled "in the field", such as when a person returns to a vehicle with a parking ticket, the report found evidence "excessive discretion ... and therefore, incorrect and inconsistent withdrawal decisions".

The report reviews a system for monitoring infringements introduced by the Department of Justice in 2006.

In response, the Department's secretary Penny Armytage said the new system had established significant changes in fairness and flexibility, but agreed there is more work to be done.

In 2007-08, approximately 4.2 million infringement notices were issued by groups including Victoria Police and local councils, with more than 209,450 notices withdrawn.