Contravention matters: challenging fines, reports & urgent measures

If you received a Romanian contravention report (minutes/report) or an administrative fine from a control authority, the useful first step is a document-based review: facts, legal classification, evidence, deadlines and immediate effects (especially when additional measures apply, such as suspension, confiscation or stop orders).

The general framework is set out by Government Ordinance no. 2/2001; regulated sectors may have specific rules and timelines. We confirm the exact deadline and procedural route based on the specific act and on the proof of service.

Dedicated subpages (common scenarios)

Construction, planning & urgent measures

Road transport

Regulators & compliance exposure

If you are unsure which page fits, send the report (and annexes) plus a short timeline; you will receive a clear outline of reasonable next steps based on the specific act, deadlines & risks.

When you typically need legal help

You received a contravention report and need to confirm whether the facts, legal classification & procedure are correct.
Additional measures apply (confiscation, suspension, stop-work/stop-activity) and time matters.
You face an inspection or regulator process with short deadlines for replies, objections or submissions.
You need an evidence strategy (documents, witnesses, expert reports) before court.
You act as a company and need an approach that also covers compliance exposure in regulated sectors.
You need a practical plan: what to file, where to file, what evidence to secure and what risk remains.
You have repeat sanctions for similar conduct and want a unified strategy.
You need a fast assessment to decide whether to contest, negotiate, remediate or combine approaches.

What we do (in the correct order)

Collect the documents: report, annexes, proof of service, correspondence with the authority, relevant technical evidence.
Confirm deadlines, jurisdiction and formal requirements under Government Ordinance no. 2/2001 (or the specific sector act).
Identify the real target: the fine, additional measures, administrative consequences, operational impact, repeat sanction risk.
Define a clear legal thesis and an evidence plan (what to obtain and in what order).
Draft and file the appeal/challenge, with evidence requests where appropriate (documents, witnesses, experts).
Manage the case deadlines and submissions, including responses and hearing preparation.
In regulated areas, align the court strategy with remediation/compliance steps where appropriate.
Provide a practical checklist: timeline, responsibilities, next actions and residual risk.

Documents useful for a first review

Document	Why it matters	Notes
Contravention report + annexes	The challenged act: facts, legal basis, sanctions & measures	Include photos/technical notes/records referenced in the report
Proof of service / delivery	Sets the procedural timeline and deadlines	Mail envelope, receipt, e-mail, service report, posting notice
Correspondence with the authority	Shows context and positions	Requests, replies, inspection notes, related reports
Relevant technical documentation	Often decisive for evidence (construction/transport/IT/energy)	E.g., registers, reports, charts, licences, internal policies
Factual evidence (photos/videos/logs)	May confirm or contradict findings	Keep source, metadata when available, and explain how it was obtained
Short timeline (1–2 pages)	Makes the case coherent and supports evidence selection	Dates, people, key events, inspection moment

Common risks & mistakes

Missing deadlines due to misunderstanding service (delivery vs. communication vs. posting).
Generic challenges without a clear thesis and without coherent evidence planning.
Ignoring additional measures although their effects are immediate (suspension, confiscation, stop orders).
Sending inconsistent explanations to the authority that later become adverse evidence.
Not securing technical documentation in time.
Focusing only on the fine, ignoring secondary administrative or operational consequences.
Skipping remediation/compliance steps in regulated areas, where repeat sanctions are the real risk.

FAQ

What is the deadline to challenge a contravention report?

It depends on the specific act; the general route is set out by Government Ordinance no. 2/2001, while regulated sectors may have particular rules. We confirm the exact deadline based on the proof of service and the applicable act.

Can I also challenge additional measures (confiscation, suspension, stop orders)?

Yes. Often, the real impact is the additional measure, not the fine itself. The strategy focuses on immediate effects and on sector-specific evidence.

If I pay the fine, does it still make sense to challenge the report?

It depends on your goal (annulment, removal of measures, administrative consequences, compliance exposure). Payment may have different legal effects depending on the sector rules; we assess this on the documents before deciding the strategy.

How do we decide what evidence matters (documents, witnesses, experts)?

We start from a clear legal thesis (what exactly is unlawful and why) and from the relevant technical standards. We then select evidence that can realistically change the court’s assessment.

Do you also represent companies?

Yes. In regulated areas, the work may combine the court appeal with a remediation/compliance plan to reduce repeat sanction risk.

What do you need for a fast first assessment?

The report, proof of service, annexes (photos/technical notes) and a short timeline. If there are additional measures, mention their immediate impact (stop order, suspension, confiscation).

Information is general and does not replace legal advice. Facts, documents and the timeline matter.

Contact

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