Dispute a Parking or By-law Penalty Notice

Richmond Hill’s Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) is a municipal alternative to the Provincial Court System that administers and adjudicates by-law offences. The AMPS program of enforcement transfers parking and by-law disputes from the courtroom to the municipality, which is more efficient. Most disputes are resolved within 45 days. Please review the following FAQ for more information.

If you receive a parking or by-law penalty notice...

You must choose one of the following options by the due date on the Penalty Notice. Unpaid fines will incur late fees and may be forwarded to collections.

Note: It may take up to three business days after the Penalty Notice issue date for the Penalty Notice to appear in the system, and for the pay or appeal options to become available.

Pay your penalty notice online (Visa or MasterCard only, debit Visa not accepted), or
Submit an Online Screening Review to dispute a Penalty Notice. Please note that an appointment is booked for internal scheduling only, a decision will be emailed back to you within 15 business days of your booking date. Please check your primary and secondary email inbox for your submission confirmation and decision. If you have not received a Screening Review decision by email within 15 business days, please contact 905-771-5734, or
Submit a Telephone Screening Review online to dispute a Penalty Notice. A Screening Officer will call you at the phone number provided on the date and time selected. Please note that a missed appointment fee of $51.00 may apply if you are not available at the scheduled telephone appointment date and time. Should you experience any difficulties booking a Telephone Screening online please call 905-771-5734.

If you receive a Default Notice...

If you have not responded to your Penalty Notice by the due date indicated, you may submit a Request for an Extension of Time to dispute your Penalty Notice. The request must be received by the due date on the Default Notice received by mail. The decision to grant a time extension may or may not be approved by the Screening Officer. The Screening Officer's decision will be emailed or mailed to the address provided on the request.

If you are not the registered license plate owner of the vehicle, or person named on the Penalty Notice, the registered license plate owner or person named must complete and sign an Authorization to Act as an Agent Form. You may submit the signed form by email to amps@richmondhill.ca.

Appeal of the Screening Review decision - Request a Hearing Review...

If you wish to appeal the Screening Review decision, you may request a review by a Hearing Officer no later than the due date shown on the decision of the Screening Review. You will be notified by email within 30 days once a Hearing Review date has been scheduled. Hearing Review appointments take place in person at the City's Operations Centre located at 1200 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill.

Contact

If you have a concern about requesting a Screening or Hearing Review and/or the AMPS program, please email the Adjudication Manager. Alternatively, you can submit a complaint to the Commissioner of Community Services using the AMPS Public Complaint Form.

Richmond Hill Council enacted the transition to AMPS in September 2016 with the adoption of the AMPS By-law 69-16 as amended.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a Penalty Notice and what does it look like?

Penalty Notices (formerly called tickets) are issued for violations of a parking, community standards or licensing by-law. A By-law or Parking Enforcement Officer issues the Penalty Notice to a vehicle, individual or corporation when they have committed a parking or by-law infraction. The Penalty Notice contains a fine and due date. You must respond to the Penalty Notice by the due date shown by either paying the fine amount or requesting a Screening Review. Failure to respond to the Penalty Notice by the due date shown may result in additional fees and collection processes. An image of a Penalty Notice is shown below:

$Penalty Notice for Parking and By-law Infraction Notice$

How are Penalty Notices issued?

Richmond Hill's Parking and By-law Licensing Enforcement Officers can issue a Penalty Notice by doing any of the following:

Affixing it to the vehicle in a conspicuous place for a parking infraction
Handing it to the person having care and control of the vehicle at the time of contravention or to the violator or property owner
Sending it by mail to the vehicle owner’s, violator's or property owner's last known address
Sending it by email to the vehicle owner’s, violator's or property owner's last known email address

Please note that an Officer may obtain photographic evidence. If photographs are obtained, they will be available to you online and at the Screening and Hearing Review.

How can I pay a Penalty Notice?

There are four options to pay a Penalty Notice.

1. Pay Online:

Visit Richmond Hill's Parking and By-law Portal and follow the instructions. Visa and MasterCard payments are accepted.

2. Pay by Mail:

Write the number of the Penalty Notice on the front of your cheque or money order and make it payable to the City of Richmond Hill. Send your payment to:

City of Richmond Hill

Community Standards - Parking Enforcement

1200 Elgin Mills Road East

Richmond Hill, Ontario L4S 1M4

Please allow sufficient time for your payment to be delivered by the due date shown on the Penalty Notice. Do not mail cash.

3. Pay in Person:

Pay by debit, credit or cash at City offices. Visit RichmondHill.ca to confirm when offices are open.

4. Drop Off Payment in Night Deposit Box:

Write the number of the Penalty Notice on the front of your cheque or money order and make it payable to the City of Richmond Hill.

Deposit your cheque or money order in the 24 Hour Drop Box located at the main entrance to the City of Richmond Hill's Operation Centre (1200 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill).
Do not deposit cash in the 24 Hour Drop Box.

Dishonoured cheques will be subject to an administrative fee of $43.

What do Screening and Hearing Officers do and how are they impartial?

Screening Review: If requested, a Screening Officer will review the administrative penalty contained in a penalty notice. Screening Reviews are conducted in person or via email after receiving an online submission.

The Screening Officer may affirm, vary or cancel the administrative penalty.

Hearing Review: If requested, a Hearing Officer will review the decision of the Screening Officer.

The City’s AMPS By-law and Policies clearly state the grounds upon which the Screening and Hearing Officer may affirm, vary or cancel the administrative penalty.

To ensure impartial decision-making, Council members and their relatives and persons indebted to the City (beyond property taxes) are NOT eligible for appointment as a Screening or Hearing Officer. Both Screening and Hearing Officers are bound by the City’s Conflict of Interest Policy which prohibits persons from influencing or attempting to influence the decision of a Screening or Hearing Officer.

Hearing Officers are also bound by the Statutory Powers and Procedures Act and the general common law principle of procedural fairness and natural justice.

What if I don’t attend a scheduled Screening or Hearing?

If you do not attend a scheduled Screening or Hearing Review appointment, the Penalty Notice will be confirmed and additional fees will be added.

The fee for failure to appear at a scheduled Screening Review appointment is $51 and it is $102 for missing a Hearing Review appointment.

What if I am not satisfied with the result of a Screening?

If the matter is still in dispute following the review by the Screening Officer, you may request a review by a Hearing Officer. Hearing Reviews are conducted in person only. A Request for Hearing must be made prior to the due date outlined in the Screening Officer’s decision using the AMPS Hearing Request Form. It is important to note that you may only appeal the Screening Officer’s decision and that only the information/evidence submitted at the Screening will be considered at the Hearing.

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