Administrative Monetary Penalties

A person who receives an AMPS penalty notice (ticket), they have the option to pay the penalty (fine) or dispute the notice and/or the penalty amount, by requesting a screening with a municipal screening officer. Most often these screenings take place through a telephone conversation or an email exchange, making it more user friendly for the person and cost effective for the person and the municipality. The screening provides the person the opportunity to explain their circumstances surrounding the alleged violation or to request some leniency with the penalty amount. AMPS provides the screening officer with a variety of options to help resolve the dispute, including the ability to lower the penalty amount. If the person is not satisfied with the decision of the screening officer, they may request a hearing before an independent hearings officer appointed by the municipality.

These hearings are typically held virtually (ie. Zoom type meetings), and can also be held in person as necessary. The hearing officer has the same variety of options to resolve the dispute as the screening officer has. The hearing officer’s decision is final.

In the event that a person fails to pay the penalty, either without requesting a screening or by not paying after a screening or hearing, the municipality has some options available to collect the defaulted fine, including the licence plate denial process for parking violations.

Further, municipalities are investigating the feasibility of implementing Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) in order to further address community concerns around traffic safety. Municipalities considering ASE are strongly encouraged to develop their process within an AMP system, given the potential volume and limited court availability. AMPS for ASE, although subject to provincial regulations, is operated in essentially the same manner as for by-law violations.

• AMPs is less formal and intimidating for members of the public to navigate

• Municipalities have increased flexibility to control the timing of the process

• Municipalities have more options to work with members of the public to resolve their disputes

• Municipalities can operate a duel enforcement process (AMP’s and POA) thereby increasing the tools available to address community concerns

• An AMP system allows for administration fees to be imposed in situations where people choose not to attempt to resolve their penalty notice issue

• The ability to impose administrative fees can help achieve two possible objectives

  • Act as an incentive to resolve the penalty notice as quickly as possible

  • Allow for cost recovery for the additional efforts and resources required to administer penalty notices that remain unresolved