The Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) is the Town of Innisfil's administration and adjudication process for parking tickets. You have the right to dispute your penalty notice within 30 days through a Screening Review.

Understanding the Administrative Monetary Penalty System

The AMPS allows municipalities to provide an open, transparent, and objective appeal process for parking infractions.

The AMPS program will apply to parking tickets, now called penalty notices, as of September 18, 2023. 

Parking tickets issued before September 18, 2023 will continue under the existing court system and will not be part of the AMPS process. Please refer to your ticket for information on how to pay or respond.

For penalty notices issued on or after September 18, 2023, please refer to your penalty notice for information how to pay or respond.

For more information view the Administrative Monetary Penalty System By-law and related documents:

Benefits of the Administrative Monetary Penalty System

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

AMPS moves parking disputes out of the court system and gives municipalities the discretion to resolve penalty notices 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, wait times to resolve disputes will be approximately two to three months.

What you need to know when you are issued a penalty notice

You have two options when you are issued a penalty notice. You can:

  1. Pay the ticket
  2. Request a screening review to dispute the notice. You have 30 days to do this from when the notice is issued

Screening reviews

Screening reviews are conducted by a screening officer. If you choose to dispute your penalty notice, you must request a screening review within 30 days of the effective date of the notice.

Submit a Screening Review

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

  • Photographs
  • Accessible parking permit
  • If you are in financial hardship and require time to pay, please bring financial documents to support this claim. Please see section 1.2 of the AMPS Undue Hardship Policy for more information

If you have not requested a Screening Review within 30 days of your penalty notice and have not paid the penalty notice, a vehicle ownership search fee may be added to the penalty. You may request an extension of time if 30 days have passed and extenuating circumstances exist, but it cannot exceed the 60-day period.

After 60 days if you fail to pay your notice or book a screening review, a late fee will be added and the matter may be sent to the Ministry of Transportation for plate denial.

Preparing for your screening review

You can submit a screening review online or in person. Please contact us to make an appointment for in-person screening reviews. We do not provide language interpreters. If English is not your first language, you are responsible for providing your own interpreter. 

If you attend a screening review and are not the registered owner, you must complete the authorization to act as an agent form, signed by the registered owner.

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. Reduce the amount owed, including any administrative fees
  4. Extend time for payment of the penalty notice, including any administrative fees
Screening decision and payment

The screening decision will be provided for you at the end of the review by email. If you fail to pay the amount set out in the screening decision within 15 days of the due date, additional administrative fees may be added.

If you are not satisfied with the screening review decision, you can request a Hearing Review at the conclusion of the screening review.

Hearing reviews

You must submit a Hearing Review request form within 30 days of receiving the screening decision. Once you have completed the form, we will confirm the date and time of your hearing review through email or by mail. 

Preparing for your hearing review

All hearings are in a virtual format unless requested in person. For in person hearings, the hearing officer may still be virtual.

You may request an extension of time if 30 days have passed, and extenuating circumstances exist. This process is outlined in the Hearing Review request form.

If you are attending the hearing review and are not the registered owner, you must complete the authorization to act as an agent form, signed by the registered owner.

Please bring copies of any documents you intend to use as evidence related to the penalty notice. For example:

  • Photographs
  • Accessible parking permit
  • A witness

If you wish to receive the Town's documents related to your penalty notice, which may include officer's notes or photos, please complete a request for disclosure form at least 10 days prior to your scheduled hearing review date.

If you are in financial hardship and require time to pay, please bring financial documents to support this claim. These documents may be kept by the hearing officer and will form part of the penalty notice record. Please see section 1.2 of the AMPS Undue Hardship Policy for more information.

The Town is not required to have parking officers present at the hearing review and may rely on certified evidence as set out in the Administrative Monetary Penalty System By-law

Hearing review procedure

Hearing reviews take place virtually and we will provide meeting links once a hearing is scheduled.

We do not provide language interpreters. If English is not your first language, you are responsible for providing your own interpreter.

If you fail to appear on the date and time of your hearing review, you will be charged an administration fee of $50.

Please arrive 5 to 10 minutes before your scheduled hearing time and wait until your matter is called. Be prepared for the hearing review process, including wait times, to take up to two hours.

The hearing will be held before a hearing officer. The Town will be asked to present its case first, after which you can present any evidence. Witnesses will be required to give evidence under oath or to affirm their evidence.

Rescheduling or cancelling a hearing review

You can request to reschedule a hearing by providing written notice in person or by email no later than three business days in advance of the hearing. Please send emails to inquiry@innisfil.ca or provide notice in person to:

Innisfil Town Hall
2101 Innisfil Beach Road
Innisfil, ON  L9S 1A1

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 up to the day prior to the hearing, please email inquiry@innisfil.ca so that your hearing can be cancelled with your penalty notice number, name, and address.

Hearing decision and payment

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.