Administrative Monetary Penalty System

The City of Markham is using a new process for the enforcement of most of the City’s parking by-law violations.

The Municipal Act, 2001 allows municipalities to use an Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) for parking by-law violations.

Markham City Council passed a By-law [PDF] to implement an Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) in June 2015. The program came into effect on October 1, 2015 in the City of Markham.

An Administrative Monetary Penalty System is a more efficient way for municipalities to enforce parking by-laws. A Penalty Notice, which is the same as a Parking Ticket, will be issued by enforcement officers for failing to comply with the City’s Parking By-law.

The new process allows the City to deal with parking matters in a fair, effective and efficient manner. It is designed to streamline the enforcement process and is considered a service enhancement because parking violations are no longer disputed through the backlogged court system.

A number of measures have been put in place to ensure the City’s new process is fair and objective. Penalty Notices can be disputed by requesting an appointment with a Screening Officer. The decision of a Screening Officer can also be reviewed by a Hearing Officer, who is an independent and impartial person.

How is a Penalty Notice Issued?
A City of Markham Municipal Law Enforcement Officer can issue a Penalty Notice for a Parking violation by:

Affixing it to the motor vehicle;
Serving personally to the driver at the time of the violation;
Delivering personally to the person as soon as reasonably possible;
Sending it by registered or regular mail to the person’s last known address (which is considered served on the 7th day after it is mailed);
Sending it by fax to the person’s last known fax number; or
Sending it by email to the person’s last known email address.

I just received a Penalty Notice. What are my options?
If you have received a Penalty Notice, you must choose one of the two options below within 15 days from the date the Penalty Notice was issued to avoid late payment or other administrative fees.

Option 1: Pay the Penalty Notice within 15 days:

- Online https://portal.gtechna.com/userportal/markham/ticketSearch.xhtml;
- By calling 1.888.948.1408;
- In person at the Cashier's Office - Markham Civic Centre 101 Town Centre Boulevard, Markham, Ontario, L3R 9W3 (confirm hours of operation https://www.markham.ca/wps/portal/home/about/contact/);
- By mailing a cheque or money order (Do Not Mail Cash) to: The City of Markham - Parking Control Division, 101 Town Centre Boulevard, Markham, Ontario, L3R 9W3. Write the Penalty Notice number on the front of your cheque or money order and make it payable to: The City of Markham.

Option 2: Dispute the Penalty Notice by requesting a Screening Review appointment with a Screening Officer within 15 days from the date of issuance online or by calling 905.477.5530.

How can I dispute my Penalty Notice?
To dispute your Penalty Notice you must request a Screening Review appointment with a Screening Officer. You can request an appointment by doing one of the following:

- Book your Appointment Online through the Ticket Portal at https://portal.gtechna.com/userportal/markham/ticketSearch.xhtml to schedule a date and time that works best for you. If you request a Screening Review appointment online, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from NoReply@markham.ca when the appointment request is approved. If you do not receive your appointment confirmation email within 24 hours of submission, it is your responsibility to follow up on the status of your request by calling 905.477.5530.
- By Calling 905.477.5530 to speak to a live customer service representative.

I need an Interpreter to assist me during my Screening Review or Hearing Review
If you need an interpreter, you are responsible for bringing a person to assist you during your scheduled Screening Review or Hearing Review appointment. The City does not provide an interpreter.
What if I missed the deadline to schedule a Screening Review?
Under extenuating or extreme circumstances (such as death or illness etc), you may be granted an extension to request a Screening Review appointment. Documentation may be requested. Call 905.477.5530 or e-mail ParkingAdmin@markham.ca for more details.
What if I don’t attend my scheduled Screening Review or Hearing Review?
If you do not attend your scheduled appointment, the Penalty Notice will be affirmed and the vehicle’s Registered Owner will be required to pay a fee for failing to attend the appointment as set out in the confirmation of appointment email. The fee for failure to appear at a scheduled appointment is $50 for a Screening Rewview, and $100 for a Hearing Review.
What if I am not satisfied with the Screening Officer’s decision?
If the matter is still in dispute following the review by the Screening Officer, you can request a review by a Hearing Officer on or before the payment due date listed on your Screening Decision Notice. At the Heaering Review appointment, you can provide evidence to support your claim. Hearing Review appointment, you can provide evidence to support your claim. Hearing Review appointments are open to the public.The Hearing Officer's decision is final.
Can someone else act on my behalf during a Screening Review or Hearing Review appointment?
Yes. You can authorize another person to act as your representative during a Screening Review or Hearing Review appointment. You must complete the Authorization to Act as an Agent Form and the person must bring the signed and completed form with them to the appointment.
I just received a Past Due Notice, now what?
If you received a Past Due Notice, this means that the City has not received payment of the Penalty Notice or you have not requested a Screening Review appointment within the required timeframe. You are no longer eligible to request a Screening Review appointment and must take action to avoid incurring additional administrative fees.
I just received a Final Notice, now what?
If you received a Final Notice, this means that the City has not received payment of the Penalty Notice. You must take action to avoid being placed in plate denial with the Ministry of Transportation at which time you will be required to pay the outstanding fine and application administration fees at the time of the renewal of your Ontario Vehicle Permit.
What will happen if I ignore the Penalty Notice?
If you do not choose one of the options listed on the back of your Penalty Notice, the City assumes you have decided not to dispute the Penalty Notice and you may be required to pay additional administrative fees. Additionally, if the Penalty Notice and administrative fees remain unpaid, a notice of default will be sent to the Ontario Registrar of Motor Vehicles which will result in your Ontario Vehicle Permit renewal being denied.
Are there any additional administrative fees?
Yes. Under specific circumstances administrative fees can be applied to your total amount due. For example, administrative fees are applied to late payments, failure to attend a scheduled Screening Review or Hearing Review appointment, and Ministry of Transportation (MTO) searches etc.

Below is a table of the applicable Administrative Fees:

Item	Administrative Fee
Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Search Fee	$12
Late Payment Fee	$25
Screening Non-Appearance Fee (For example: failure to appear at a scheduled Screening Review appointment)	$50
Hearing Non-Appearance Fee (For example: failure to appear at a scheduled Hearing Review appointment)	$100
Plate Denial Fee	$20

Why did Markham implement the AMPS program?
The Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) was introduced to help the over-burdened courts by streamlining the process and allowing Municipalities to handle parking violations. Resolving parking matters could potentially take months in the congested court system. Under AMPS, parking matters can be resolved in weeks.

AMPS is more effective because:

- Individuals can resolve parking matters in a more convenient and citizen-friendly environment;
- The City is able to deal with parking violations in a timely manner;
- Individuals can continue to exercise their right to dispute the parking ticket by requesting an appointment review of the ticket with a Screening Officer or Hearing Officer;
- Individuals may request an extension of time to pay their Parking Ticket from a Screening Officer or Hearing Officer;
- It reduces the congestion in Provincial Courts; and,
- Allows for better use of court time and resources for more serious matters.