1 - What is an Administrative Penalty System?
An APS is a municipally administered program that replaces the current Court system with a faster, more flexible, and customer focused adjudication process for Municipal offences. One of the main objectives of an APS is to create a simple, accessible, fair and cost-effective system for dealing with violations.
2 - Why implement an Administrative Penalty System?
Right now, the process for disputing Town of Whitby issued parking penalties (tickets) is through the provincial judicial system. Moving to an APS that is fully managed by the Town will create a faster and more flexible process for payment and dispute of parking penalties (tickets) issued by the Town. APS will create a consistent penalty (ticket) dispute resolution system and reduce the wait time to appeal a ticket from several months/years to a few weeks.
Moving to APS will also allow parking penalties (tickets) to be served by mail after a violation is observed by a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer. The Town will also begin to utilize Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) technology for school zone enforcement. This will change how the Town conducts parking enforcement within school zones, freeing officers to enforce parking at multiple schools and addressing other important matters.
3 - How will I receive a penalty notice (parking ticket notice)?
Parking penalty notices (parking ticket notices) may be served on the vehicle, delivered by hand, or sent by mail (the same way automated speed enforcement defendants would receive a Notice by mail).
4 - What are tiered and escalating parking penalty notices?
Under the new APS, tiered and escalating parking penalties will be used to encourage compliance with the Town's Traffic By-law and discourage repeat offences/offenders. This system applies to the Town’s Traffic by-law and is comprised of three tiers (e.g. Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3). Penalty amounts increase with each progressive tier.
Tiered and escalating penalties (tickets) apply as follows:
- Parking infraction: If the same licence plate repeats the same parking infraction within 90 days from the previous infraction.
For example:
- An individual who receives a Penalty Notice (Ticket Notice) for a parking infraction on June 1, 2024, would receive a Tier 1 Penalty Notice.
- If that individual (same licence plate) repeats the same parking infraction within 90 days from June 1, 2024, they would receive a Tier 2 Penalty Notice (Ticket Notice).
- If that individual (driving the same licence plate) repeats the same parking infraction within 90 days from the date the Tier 2 Penalty Notice (Ticket Notice) was issued, they would receive a Tier 3 Penalty Notice.
- Should the individual (driving the same licence plate) continue to repeat the same parking infraction within 180 days from the date the Tier 3 Penalty Notice (Ticket Notice) was issued, they will continue to receive Tier 3 Penalty Notice until more than 180 days have passed without the same infraction being committed.
5 - Does it cost anything to request a Hearing of a Penalty Notice (Ticket Notice)?
Yes, there is an adjudication fee of $25 should the penalty notice (ticket notice) be upheld and “no show” fees should you not attend.
6 - How are Screenings held?
Review Screenings are completed via email.
7 - What happens if I do not attend my scheduled Hearing?
The penalty will be affirmed. Additionally, the registered owner of the vehicle will receive a Hearing-No show fee of $100.
8 - What happens if I do not exercise an Option for the Penalty Notice (Ticket Notice)?
Failure to pay a Penalty Notice (Ticket Notice) will result in more administrative fees. Additionally, the notice will go to the Ontario Registrar of Motor Vehicles for parking penalties. They will deny the renewal of existing or the issuance of new vehicle licence plates.
9 - What happens if I don’t pay my parking penalty by the final due date?
If you miss the final due date, the Town of Whitby may notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. This can prevent you from renewing or obtaining vehicle permits or plates until all outstanding penalties and fees are paid. In this case, you can pay your outstanding parking penalty online through the Government of Ontario.
Pay a defaulted parking ticket online
To pay a defaulted parking ticket, you will require the following:
Example Offence Number: 2860255WXXXXX
If you require assistance, contact Parking Services at 905-430-4322.