The 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 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.
The Municipality of North Grenville passed a by-law to implement an Administrative Monetary Penalty System in November 2024, to be effective January 2nd, 2025.
Under the structure of Administrative Penalties, when an enforcement officer issues a Penalty Notice, to a person or a vehicle in violation of a municipality’s by-law, the penalty becomes a balance due to the municipality. Once issued, there are two options available to the defendant which include contesting the penalty notice through a screening review with a Screening Officer. In the event that a defendant is not in agreement with the decision of a Screening Officer, the defendant can appeal the decision to a Hearing Officer for an additional review. The decision of a Hearing Officer is considered final and binding. An AMP system provides control to the municipality with respect to the timelines associated to the life of a penalty notice as the process is no longer hindered by the backlogged Provincial Court system. Because administrative penalties are imposed without a court hearing, policies are put in place (e.g. conflict of interest, political interference) to ensure that the hearing process for imposing a penalty is fair and in accordance with the principals of natural justice. AMP systems have been upheld by the courts as appropriate for matters under provincial control.