Town of Newmarket

Bylaw Fines: Licensing, Parking and Property Standards

Contacts

Municipal Office

395 Mulock Drive P.O. Box 328 Station Main, Newmarket, Ontario
L3Y 4X7
905-895-5193

Email Us

September 14, 2020


Notice of Virtual Hearing Reviews

COVID-19 Update

As the Municipal Offices are currently closed to the public due to COVID-19, any requests for disputing a ticket or fine via a Screening Review will need to be made online. In-person requests cannot be accommodated at this time.

To pay for a ticket, you may go online or you may call Customer Service at 905-895-5193 to make a payment over the telephone using a credit card. Alternatively, you can mail a cheque in to Town of Newmarket – Customer Service, 395 Mulock Drive, P.O. Box 328, STN Main, Newmarket, ON, L3Y 4X7.

To dispute a ticket, you must go online and request to dispute. Screenings will be conducted online or the disputant may specifically provide a telephone number under “reason for dispute” and a Screening Officer will contact the disputant via telephone.

Any previously scheduled Hearing Reviews have now been postponed until a later date. You will be notified via e-mail once a future date has been established.

Parking + Bylaw Portal Web Button.jpg

The Town of Newmarket now uses the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) to process and adjudicate parking, licensing and property standards tickets and by-law fines. If you received a ticket or fine after January 15, 2020, you will receive a 25% discount* for paying early (within 15 days) and have the right to dispute your ticket through a screening review process. 

Parking tickets issued before and on January 14, 2020 will continue under the existing court system and will not be part of the AMPS process; please see the back of your ticket for full details.

*There will be no early payment discount for any violations pertaining to accessible parking in accordance with provincial legislation. The set amount is $300.00 per violation and is not eligible to be reduced.

1. What is AMPS?

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

The Town of Newmarket will use AMPS to administer tickets for parking, licensing, property standards and by-law violations. 

Parking tickets issued before and on January 14, 2020 will continue under the existing court system and will not be part of the AMPS process; please see the back of your ticket for full details. 

For more information view the administrative monetary penalty system by-law (PDF) and click through the below questions to understand the new process. 

2. What to do when you are issued a ticket

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

You can:

1.     Pay your ticket: receive a 25% discount* if you pay within 15 days.
Accepted online payment methods: Visa, MasterCard or American Express (debit is not accepted online)

*There will be no early payment discount for any violations pertaining to accessible parking in accordance with provincial legislation. The set amount is $300.00 per violation and is not eligible to be reduced.

2.     Dispute your ticket: Request a screening review to dispute your ticket. You have 15 days to do this from when the notice was issued. 

Do it online! Click "Pay Ticket" or "Dispute Ticket"

Opens parking.newmarket.ca a self-serve parking portal which allows you to pay or request to dispute parking tickets

Pay in-person using credit, debit or cash at any Town of Newmarket Customer Service Center (including kiosks) during regular business hours. 

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

Town of Newmarket – Customer Service
395 Mulock Drive
P.O. Box 328, STN Main
Newmarket, ON L3Y 4X7


Requesting a Screening Review:

If you are disputing your ticket, you must request a screening review. Go to our portal, and click on "Dispute Ticket" 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:

  • Through online correspondence;
  • Over the phone; or
  • In-person* at the Municipal Offices

*Note: If you, or your authorized agent, do not show up in-person for a confirmed Screening Review appointment, a $50 "No-Show" fee will be added to your total amount payable.

To start, go to our Portal and click on "Dispute Ticket" 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 can send an Agent on your behalf.

Opens to Authorization to Act as an Agent Form

Are there extenuating circumstances making it challenging to pay or dispute your ticket on time? You may be eligible for an extension. You should first – review the policy regarding the Extension of Time to Request a Screening Review or Hearing Review

Opens to the Request for Time Extension Form

3. Why you should act now

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 pay a reduced rate (25% discount*), or you have the option to dispute your ticket by requesting a Screening Review.  

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) and can no longer dispute the ticket (unless you have extenuating circumstances).
  • After 31 days: you will now owe the "Late 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.
  • After 45 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 (license plate sticker). You will pay:

After 45 days, your total amount payable to the Town will include: the "Late Amount" on ticket + $10 MTO Search Fee + $20 Plate Denial fee.  

*There will be no early payment discount for any violations pertaining to accessible parking in accordance with provincial legislation. The set amount is $300.00 per violation and is not eligible to be reduced.

4. Knowing the fees you could incur

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)
  • $50 No-Show Fee if you fail to attend your confirmed in-person Screening Review appointment
  • $100 No-Show Fee if you fail to attend your confirmed Hearing Review appointment
  • $25 Adjudication Fee if a Hearing Officer upholds your ticket
  • $20 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 45 days ago

5. Preparing for your Screening Review

You have the option to request the Screening Review to be conducted online, over the phone or in-person. No matter the format, 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 7 days.  

In-person

Screening reviews take place during business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and require an appointment. Walk-in Screening Reviews are not permitted. They are located in the Municipal Offices (395 Mulock Drive). After you have received your scheduled Screening Review appointment, please go to the Legislative Services counter to check-in for your appointment.

Please note that 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 complete the Authorization to Act as an Agent Form authorizing you to act on the owner’s behalf. This must be signed by the registered owner.

Opens to Authorization to Act as an Agent Form

Evidence

Please bring 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 

Please review the Town's Financial 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

If you fail to appear on the date and time of your hearing review you will be charged a No-Show Fee of $50.

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.

6. Preparing for your Hearing Review

If you wish to have your ticket further reviewed, you must request a Hearing Review within 15 days of the Screening Decision. 

Hearing Reviews will take place on the last Wednesday of each month at the Municipal Offices (395 Mulock Drive) between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hearing Reviews are all conducted in-person and are open to the public.

If you are attending the Hearing Review and are not the registered owner you must complete the Authorization to Act as an Agent Form authorizing you to act on the owner's behalf. This must be signed by the registered owner.

Opens to Authorization to Act as an Agent Form

Evidence

Please bring 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.

Parking Officers are required to attend Hearing Reviews.

Hearing review procedure

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

Your appointment will be held before a Hearing Officer. You will be asked to present your case first and then the Town will present its case.  The Hearing Officer will review both cases and consider any material submitted when making a decision. 

Please note that 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 $100.

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; or
  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 the Hearing Officer upholds the ticket, a $25 Adjudication Fee will be added to the Set Amount.

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.

Contact:
parking@newmarket.ca 
905-895-5193 extension 2220

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 $100. 

7. Benefits of the administrative monetary penalty system

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.

8. Complaint Process

If you have a complaint, you may register your complaint by contacting the Customer Service department at 905-895-5193, or file a complaint by completing the Complaint Submission Form and sending it to Legislative Services by email, mail or fax.

Opens to Complaint Submission Form

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

Please 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

Complaints will be investigated as soon as possible. Please review the Public Complaint Policy. 



I got a ticket, now what? Follow this step-by-step flow chart to understand what to do.

AMPS flowchart.jfif


NOTE: There will be no early payment discount for any violations pertaining to accessible parking in accordance with provincial legislation. The set amount is $300.00 per violation and is not eligible to be reduced.