- Stouffville launched its Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) on May 8 this year.
- The new system enables the Town to process by-law infractions more efficiently, bypassing Ontario’s backlogged courts.
- In the first six months of the AMPS program, 2,052 Penalty Notices were issued.
- Recipients of Penalty Notices can dispute their tickets by requesting a review from a Screening Officer.
- Of the Notices issued, 472, or 23%, went through the screening process, resulting in 148 cancellations and 110 penalty reductions.
- Current by-laws enforced under the AMPS system include parking, fire lane, noise, and short-term rental infractions.
Previously, by-law enforcement was conducted under the Provincial Offences Act through the Provincial Court system, a “cumbersome” model, as described by a Staff report scheduled for Council review next week.
To address this issue, the Province updated legislation to allow municipalities to implement AMPS. Without the need for trial hearings, Stouffville can now process applicable by-law infractions internally in just 4–8 weeks.
AMPS provides residents a two-tiered resolution system to challenge Penalty Notices. Tickets can be appealed to a Screening Officer, who reviews evidence to decide whether to affirm, reduce, or cancel the penalty.
Since AMPS began, the Town has issued 2,052 Penalty Notices: 1,825 were parking related, 181 for fire route offences, 36 for illegal short-term rentals, and 10 for Noise By-Law violations.
Of these 2,052 cases, 472, or 23%, were screened, leading to 248 (7.2%) cancellations and 110 (4.7%) penalty reductions. The process has resulted in an 88% overall affirmation rate for Penalty Notices under AMPS.
If a Penalty recipient is unsatisfied with the screening outcome, they can escalate their appeal to an independent Hearing Officer in Newmarket for final adjudication. To date, only 25 disputes (0.01%) have been elevated to a Hearing Officer.
Additional by-laws will be moved under the AMPS program early next year, including the Animal Services, Fireworks, and Signage By-Laws. Other by-laws will be considered for inclusion throughout 2025.
Detailed financial outcomes related to the AMPS program will be provided in a report to Council following a full year of operations.