Objecting to a fine
Objecting procedure
Do you disagree with your fine and can you support your case? Then you may submit a written objection only. This can be done exclusively via email to [email protected] and must be submitted within 7 days of receiving the fine.
You may file an objection if you can substantiate and prove with facts and evidence that the fine was wrongly issued. Please first check the section later in this document outlining situations where filing an objection is not useful.
If you wish to submit an objection, please email us the following information:
- Your reasoning: Why is the fine unjustified? Why do you qualify for leniency?
- The invoice number and customer number (you can find these on the invoice)
- A copy of your valid travel document (such as an e-ticket or OV-chipkaart)
- An overview of your travel products, showing which subscription you have
- Did you travel with your OV-chipkaart? Include a travel history overview, which you can request via your account at www.ov-chipkaart.nl
- Did you travel using your debit card or OV-pass (OVpay)? Include a travel overview, which can be requested via www.ovpay.nl under “My Journeys.” You will need the reference number from your bank statement, which starts with NLOV.
Your objection will be reviewed. You can expect the outcome within 21 days. You cannot file a second objection against the decision made. Further correspondence will therefore not be processed.
When is it not worthwhile to file an objection?
In the following cases, an objection will always be rejected and will not be processed further:
- You travel on balance and forgot to check in (with OV-pass, OV-chipkaart, or debit card)
- You travel on balance but had insufficient funds on your OV-chipkaart
- You travel on account and pay afterwards (e.g., with Transdev Flex, Schiphol Flex, or Zeeland Voordeel) and forgot to check in
- You traveled using someone else’s OV-chipkaart. Personal OV-chipkaarten are non-transferable.
- You failed to prove that you are entitled to use a specific travel product that requires additional identification, such as a company or Schiphol pass
- You traveled with an invalid travel document (e.g., a ticket from the previous day) or traveled on a day or time outside your travel product’s validity (e.g., a student weekday pass used during the weekend or outside off-peak hours)
- You brought a bicycle but did not purchase a ticket for it
- Your OV-chipkaart is so damaged that it could not be checked, e.g., the photo and/or name is no longer visible or the chip is unreadable
- You have previously received warnings or a “show right” notice