Administrative Monetary Penalty System
The Administrative Monetary Penalties System (A.M.P.S.) is an emerging approach to dealing with minor bylaw infractions in a manner that is fair, effective and efficient. The Penalty Notice is issued by a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer to an individual when they have committed a bylaw infraction. A Penalty Notice is the same as a “ticket” except that it requires payment of a penalty instead of a fine.
A.M.P.S. transfers bylaw disputes from the courtroom to the municipality through the use of a Screening and a Hearing Officer. The Screening and Hearing Officer is able to modify, cancel, or affirm penalties. This approach aids in reducing congestion in the courts as well as providing a more local and accessible dispute resolution system for the public.
Penalty Notices issued under A.M.P.S does not cost more than traditional fines. However, in certain cases, additional administrative fees may be applied to the original penalty amount. For instance, additional administrative fees are applied to late payments, the failure to attend a scheduled review with a Screening or Hearing Officer, and Ministry of Transportation (M.T.O.) searches.
For a list of bylaws and related fines issued under the AMPS please refer to the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) Bylaw.