What is AMPS? 

The Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) is a faster and more flexible process for payment, appeal and collection of municipal penalties. AMPS will be fully managed by the City of Clarence-Rockland and replaces the judicial appeal process. 

AMPS started in 2022 and applies to parking tickets and other by-law infractions within the City of Clarence-Rockland. 

If you receive a penalty notice, you have the right, within a limited time, to dispute the penalty by requesting a Screening Review meeting.  You can schedule a Screening Review meeting: 

  • by phoning the Client Service Centre at 613-446-6022 

  • in person at the Client Service Centre, 1560 Laurier Street, Rockland, Ontario, K4K 1P7 

  • Or online  

The Screening Review meeting will be overseen by a Screening Officer, who has the authority to make a decision to uphold, cancel or reduce the penalty. 

If you disagree with the Screening Officer's decision, you have up to 15 days after the decision to appeal to a Hearing Review Meeting. The Hearing Officer’s decision, following the Hearing Review meeting, is final.  

What is different from the judicial review process? 

Before AMPS, the process for disputing tickets was through the provincial judicial system.  Wait times to appeal a ticket could be several months. AMPS however, is fully managed by the City of Clarence-Rockland and both Screening Review meetings and subsequent Hearing Review appeals to the Screening Review are expected to be resolved within several weeks from the date of the penalty being issued. 

With AMPS replacing the current judicial process for appealing tickets, valuable court time will be freed up and utilized by our courts to deal with more serious matters. 

The City of Clarence-Rockland’s AMPS program also provides the public with greater flexibility as to where, when and how they can interact with the City in resolving their penalty notice, creating a more streamlined, customer-focused service. 

Frequently asked questions

About the AMPS Program 

What is the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS)?  

The (AMPS) is an emerging approach to dealing with minor by-law infractions, in a manner that is fair, effective and efficient. This approach has been adopted by numerous municipalities, the province and the federal government and is designed to streamline the enforcement process and increase compliance with the City of Clarence-Rockland’s parking by-laws. 

The AMPS program of enforcement transfers by-law disputes from the courtroom to the municipality through the use of independent Screening and Hearing Review Officers who are able to modify, cancel, or affirm penalties. This approach aids in reducing congestion in the courts as well as providing a more local and accessible dispute resolution system.  

 
Why did the City of Clarence-Rockland move to the new AMPS program?  

The use of the AMPS program has become a common practice amongst numerous municipalities, the province, the federal government, and in other jurisdictions around the world. In Ontario, the use of municipal AMPS is legislated under the Municipal Act, 2001. 

This measure was introduced to help the over-burdened courts by streamlining the process and allowing municipalities to handle minor by-law infractions.  

 
How is the new AMPS program better?  

Resolving minor by-law infractions could potentially take months in the congested court system. The new AMPS program helps to speed up the process by resolving minor by-law infraction matters in weeks while maintaining an individual’s right to request a review of their Penalty Notice. 

The AMPS Program is more effective because: 

  • Citizens can resolve by-law matters in a more convenient and citizen-friendly environment 

  • The City is more capable in dealing with minor by-law infractions in a timely manner; 

  • Citizens may request an extension of time in which to request a review by a Screening or Hearing Review Officer; 

  • Citizens may request an extension of time to pay a penalty from a Screening or Hearing Review Officer; 

  • It reduces congestion in provincial courts; and, 

  • Better use of court time and other resources for more serious matters – the AMPS Program allows the over-burdened provincial courts to address more serious matters such as Highway Traffic Act offences. 

 

About Penalty Notices 

 

What is a Penalty Notice? And what do they look like?  
A Penalty Notice is the same as a “ticket” except that it requires payment of a penalty instead of a fine. The Penalty Notice is issued by a Municipal By-Law Enforcement Officer to an individual when they have committed a by-law infraction.  
How are Penalty Notices issued?  

The City of Clarence-Rockland Municipal Enforcement Officers can issue a Penalty Notice through the following methods: 

  • In person 

  • On vehicle 

Note: Parking-related Penalty Notices are generally issued by attaching the notice to the vehicle or by serving the notice directly to the operator. 

 
Do Penalty Notices cost more than traditional fines?  

No. 

Penalty Notices issued under the AMPS program do not cost more than traditional fines. However, in certain cases, additional administrative fees may be applied to the original penalty amount. 

 

I just received a Penalty Notice. What now? 

What are my options when a Penalty Notice is issued?  
1. Pay the Penalty Notice; or 
2. Request a review by a Screening Officer.  
How can I pay a Penalty Notice?  

  • In person at the Client Service Centre (cash, cheque, debit, VISA, MasterCard) 

  • By mail at City of Clarence-Rockland, 1560 Laurier Street, Rockland, Ontario, K4K 1P7  

  • By leaving your payment in the dropbox outside of Client Service Centre 
How can I request a review of my Penalty Notice?  
The registered owner of the vehicle or the person named in the Penalty Notice may request an initial review ("Screening") of the Penalty Notice by a Screening Review Officer by submitting a request for a Screening Review by calling the Client Service Centre at 613-446-6022 and speaking to a customer service representative.  
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 Review Officer, you may request a review by a Hearing Review Officer. A request must be made within fifteen (15) calendar days following the receipt of the Screening Review Officer’s decision. It is important to note that you may only appeal the Screening Review Officer's decision and that only the information/evidence submitted at the Screening will be considered at the Hearing Review.  
Does it cost anything to request a Screening or Hearing?  

No. 

A fee is not charged for a review of a Penalty Notice. 

 
Can I authorize someone else to act on my behalf?  

Anyone can make payment on your behalf as long as they have your Penalty Notice and licence plate number. 

The registered owner of the vehicle or the person named in the Penalty Notice is the only one who can request a Screening or Hearing Review and must attend the scheduled Screening or Hearing Review appointment. 

An authorized representative (witness) may also attend a Screening or Hearing Review provided that they are authorized by the registered owner of the vehicle or the person named in the Penalty Notice.