Administrative Monetary Penalty System

AMPS is a municipally administered program that replaces the current court system with a faster, more flexible and customer-focused adjudication process for bylaw offences. One of the main objectives of an AMPS program is to create a simple, accessible, fair and cost-effective system of dealing with bylaw violations.

The Town of Georgina will use AMPS to administer tickets for parking, with plans to expand to other regulatory bylaws. 

For more information view the administrative monetary penalty system bylaw and click through the questions below to understand the new process. 

You have two options when you are issued a ticket (also known as a Penalty Notice).
You can:

1. Pay your ticket: receive a small discount if you make a voluntary early payment within 15 days.
   Accepted online payment methods: Visa, or MasterCard (debit is not accepted online)
2. Appeal your ticket: Request a Screening Review to dispute your ticket. You have 30 days to do this from when the notice was issued. 

Do it online at parking.georgina.ca. Choose "Pay Ticket" or "Dispute Ticket"

Parking Portal Pay or Dispute Your Ticket

Pay in person using credit, debit or cash at Service Georgina during regular business hours. 

Pay by mail using a cheque or money order payable to: The Town of Georgina

Town of Georgina
26557 Civic Centre Rd.
Keswick, ON L4P 3G1

Requesting a Screening Review:

If you are disputing your ticket, you must request a Screening Review. Go to the portal, and choose "Appeal Ticket" and then submit the Request to Dispute Form explaining your reason for disputing the ticket and how you would like to be contacted.

The Screening Review can be conducted:

• By Email
• Over the phone
• In person at the municipal offices during regular business hours

To start, go to the Portal and choose "Appeal Ticket" and then submit the Request to Dispute Form explaining your reason for disputing the ticket and how you would like to be contacted.

 Request an agent or extension

If you have requested an in-person Screening Review appointment and are not able to attend yourself, you may send an agent on your behalf.

Are there extenuating circumstances making it challenging to pay or dispute your ticket on time? You may be eligible for an extension. Discuss this with the screening officer.

Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) Hearings: 

If you are not satisfied with the decision of the Screening Officer, you may appeal the decision to a Hearing Officer. Hearing reviews are held virtually and certain portions may be open to the public. For more information, contact bylaws@georgina.ca. 

We recommend you act early to avoid additional administrative fees being added to your total amount payable. If you act within 15 days of the ticket being issued, you are eligible to make a reduced payment, or you have the option to dispute your ticket by requesting a Screening Review within 30 days.

If you don't act within 15 days, here's what will happen:

• After 15 days: you will now owe the "Set Amount" (found on your ticket).
• After 30 days: you will now owe the "Set Amount" plus $10 because the Town will have to request the vehicle's registered owner information in order to send you a letter to advise that no action has been taken on the ticket. You will also be charged a $25 late payment fee.
• After 75 days: Your ticket will be sent to the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and they will require you pay your total amount payable to the Town in addition to any administrative fees that they may require you to pay before you can have your Ontario Vehicle Permit renewed. At this time a plate denial fee of $25 will be added.

Under specific circumstances, additional fees are applied to the either the Set Amount or Late Amount. Additional fees include:

• $10 Search fee to retrieve the registered owner's information from the Ministry of Transportation (MTO)
• $25 Late fee if you fail to respond to the penalty notice within 30 days
• $50 No-show Fee if you fail to attend your confirmed Hearing Review appointment
• $25 Plate Denial Fee if your ticket is sent to the MTO because you took no action on the ticket and it was issued more than 75 days ago

You have the option to request the Screening Review. You will have the opportunity to provide reasons as to why you are disputing your ticket with a Screening Officer.

Once you’ve submitted your Request to Dispute Form, a Screening Officer will contact you by your preferred communications method within seven days. Screening reviews take place during business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Walk-in Screening Reviews are permitted. 

Note: language interpreters are not provided by the Town and you are responsible for providing your own, if English is not your first language.

If you are attending the Screening Review and are not the registered owner you must provide authorization to act as an agent on the owner’s behalf. This must be signed by the registered owner.

Evidence

Submit copies of any documents that may assist as evidence. This may include:

• Photographs
• Condominium letter/lease
• Accessible parking permit
• Medical note
• A death certificate

If you are in financial hardship and require additional time to pay, please bring documents to support this claim. Documents may include:

• Old Age Security
• Canada Pension
• Guaranteed Income Supplement
• Disability Pension
• Ontario Assistance Program
• Any other form of social assistance 

Review the Town's Undue Hardship Policy for more information.

Screening Review procedure

The Screening Officer will review and consider any documents you submit before making a decision. During the Screening Review, the officer may:

1. Cancel the penalty notice, including any administrative fees
2. Confirm the penalty notice, including any administrative fees
3. Extend time for payment of the penalty notice, including any administrative fees

Screening decision and payment

The Screening Officer will issue you a written decision (provided by email, in-person or by mail). Once a decision has been made, the decision will note if the ticket has been cancelled or upheld. If the ticket is upheld, it will outline how much you are required to pay and by what date.

If you are not satisfied with the Screening Decision you may request a Hearing Review.

If you wish to have your ticket further reviewed, you must request a Hearing Review within 30 days of the Screening Decision. 

Hearing Reviews take place virtually between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, and certain portions may be open to the public.

If you are attending the Hearing Review and are not the registered owner you must provide authorization to act as an agent on the owner’s behalf. This must be signed by the registered owner.

Evidence

Submit printed copies of any documents you intend to use as evidence related to the ticket. For example:

• Photographs
• Condominium letter/lease
• Accessible parking permit
• Medical note
• Death certificate

You may also bring witnesses to the Hearing Review.

You will receive an evidence package prior to your Hearing Review.

A parking enforcement officer or another representative of the Town may attend Hearing Reviews.

Hearing review procedure

Arrive five to 10 minutes before your scheduled hearing times and wait until your matter is called. Like provincial court, there are public and others, in addition to parking enforcement, that may be present.

Your appointment will be held before a Hearing Officer. The Town will present its evidence first and then you will have an opportunity to present your own evidence and/or reasons for disputing the Penalty Notice. The Hearing Officer will review both cases and consider any material submitted when making a decision. 

Note: language interpreters are not provided by the Town and you are responsible for providing your own if English is not your first language.

If you fail to appear on the date and time of your Hearing Review you will be charged a No-show Fee of $50.

Hearing decision and payment

During a Hearing Review, the Hearing Officer may:

1. Cancel the Penalty Notice (including Administrative Fees)
2. Affirm the Penalty Notice (including Administrative Fees)
3. Reduce the Penalty Notice to the early payment amount
4. Extend the time for payment of the Penalty Notice (including Administrative Fees)

The Hearing Officer is not bound by the decision of the Screening Officer. The decision of the Hearing Officer is final.

If you fail to pay the amount set out in the hearing decision within 15 days of the due date, additional administrative fees may be added.

Rescheduling or cancelling a Hearing Review

You may request to reschedule a hearing review by providing notice via email or phone no later then 24 hours in advance of the hearing. Please note that only one deferral request will be accepted. Once one request to defer a hearing date has been received, your matter will be rescheduled for the next available Hearing date. 

Contact:
bylaws@georgina.ca 
905-476-4301 ext.3006

Except in extenuating circumstances, a hearing review will not be rescheduled more than once. 

If you change your mind and decide to pay the penalty notice, please contact us so that your hearing can be cancelled. Please include your penalty notice number, name and address. If you do not do this 24 hours prior to the meeting, you may receive a No-show fee of $50. 

Under the previous system tickets were disputed in the Ontario Court of Justice. A municipality has limited opportunity to present a flexible alternative to settle these disputes.

AMPS moves disputes out of the court system and gives municipalities the discretion to resolve tickets at a screening review. A person who disagrees with the decision of the screening officer can request a hearing before a hearing officer.

The new system will be more efficient, user friendly and less intimidating. AMPS will maintain the fundamental principles of justice and due process. Under this new process, most ticket escalations will be resolved within 90 days – much faster than the previous, court-based system.

If you have a complaint, you may register your complaint by contacting the Municipal Law Enforcement department at 905-476-4301 ext. 3006.

The Town keeps the identity of every complainant confidential unless the complainant has agreed to be identified.

Remember you must provide the following information when filing a complaint:

• Complainant name, telephone number and email
• Complaint location (address)
• A satisfactory explanation of the complaint and details that would assist

Should you have any questions or concerns, please review:

Policies

• Conflict of Interest Policy
• Screening and Hearing Officer Policy
• Undue Hardship Policy
• Financial Management and Reporting Policy
• Prevention of Political Interference Policy
• Public Complaints Policy

 Bylaw

• AMPS Bylaw 2022-0052 (REG-1)
• Amendment to Schedule A