Ottawa's new system for dealing with parking ticket disputes now in effect

CTV News

2 days ago

A parking ticket is seen on the windshield of a car in Ottawa, Ont. (CTV News Ottawa)
Ottawa motorists no longer have to go to court to fight a parking ticket, as the city launches a new system to deal with ticket disputes.
The City of Ottawa's new administrative penalty system launched Wednesday morning to manage and adjudicate parking ticket infractions.
As of June 4, if you receive a parking ticket from Bylaw Services, the infraction will be administered through the new administrative penalty system.
Under the system, drivers who receive a parking ticket can either pay the fine or request a review by the screening officer hired by the City of Ottawa. Following the decision by the screening officer, the offender can request a review by a hearing officer. Motorists will not have to go to the Provincial Offences Act court to challenge a parking ticket issued by Bylaw Services officers.
Meantime, tickets issued on or before June 3 will be processed through the Provincial Offences Act court.
The city says with the shift to an automated penalty system, it has made improvements to the process of applying for and renewing most on-street parking permits. You can visit ottawa.ca/parkingpermits to see if the permit you wish to apply for is affected by the change.
CTV News Ottawa looks at what you need to know about the administrative penalty system. The city plans to expand the administrative penalty system to red light camera and photo radar camera tickets in the future.
What is the administrative penalty system?
The City of Ottawa says the administrative penalty system (APS) changes how 'certain bylaw violations are handled.'
'APS allows the City to manage the ticket review process independently without relying on the Provincial Offences Court.'
What is the difference between the administrative penalty system and the Provincial Offences Act?
Under the current Provincial Offences Act, parking, red light camera and photo radar camera tickets are handled in provincial courts. Provincial judges and staff manage the dispute process, and the city says there are 'long wait times' for ticket reviews.
Under the APS, tickets will be handled by screening officers and hearing officers employed by the City of Ottawa. The city says the new system will be 'faster' and offer 'more flexible scheduling.'
According to the city, the administrative penalty system will reduce the delays in the provincial court system, speed up ticket reviews and 'free up provincial court time for serious cases.'
A city report last year said the new administrative penalty system will see disputes over tickets heard within a few weeks or months and lower municipal costs by 35 per cent.
How does the system work?
When you receive a parking ticket, you will have two options under the administrative penalty system.
Pay the ticket online, by mail or at any Client Service Centre or Administrative Penalty System Service Centre
Request a review of the ticket. Within 15 days of the ticket being issued, the vehicle owner can request a review with a city screening officer by completing a request form.
When you submit a request for review with a city screening officer, the city says you should provide a written explanation and supporting documentation to demonstrate that either the offence was not committed or 'they are experiencing undue hardship.'
Screening Review
The screening review will be conducted by screening officers employed by the City of Ottawa.
'(They) have been carefully trained to conduct the 'screening' review of the penalty by following standardized, consistent, and pre-established criteria in keeping with the bylaw that governs the APS program,' the city says.
The screening officer has the authority to uphold, reduce, extend the time to pay the ticket, or cancel the penalty.
'This decision will be informed by the backup documentation from both the vehicle owner and the Parking Enforcement Officer,' the city says.
Final review by a hearing officer
The city says if a vehicle owner disagrees with the decision by the screening officer, they may request a final review with a hearing officer, who is appointed by council. The hearing officer will have 'previous experience' in the field of law, adjudication and/or in the interpretation and application of legislation, the city says.
A request for a final review by a hearing officer must be submitted with 15 days of the initial screening review's decision date.
'An in-person hearing date and time will be issued to the vehicle owner,' the city says on its website.
'The hearing officer's decision to either uphold the penalty, reduce the penalty, extend the time to pay the penalty, or cancel the penalty is final. Neither the ticket holder nor the city can appeal the decision.'
An in-person hearing will be held at the Provincial Offences Act and Administrative Penalty System Service Centre at the Mary Pitt Centre on Constellation Drive.