Administrative Penalty System Program

If you wish to dispute a Penalty Notice you may request a Screening Review of the Penalty Notice. The request must be submitted within fifteen (15) days of the Date of Service as noted on the Penalty Notice.

The Screening Officer has the authority to affirm, cancel, reduce and/or extend the time for payment of the Administrative Penalty.

Gtechna Link Here

When submitting your Screening Review Request ensure that you include on the form:

- Why you think the penalty should be cancelled or varied;

- Why you need more time to pay the penalty;

- Attach any evidence (e.g. a photograph) to support your dispute.

If you have a valid reason for missing the deadline to submit the Request for a Screening Review, please contact us at aps@leamington.ca. Extensions may be granted if you demonstrate that there were Mitigating or Extenuating Circumstances that prevented you from submitting the Request for a Screening Review by the due date (documentation may be required). The maximum extension is an additional 15 days.

Please note that Screening Officers and Hearing Officers have no authority to consider questions relating to the validity of statute, regulation, or By-law, or the constitutional applicability or operability of any statute, regulation or By-law.

If you do not agree with the Screening Decision, you may appeal the Screening Officer’s Decision to the Hearing Officer by requesting a Hearing Review within thirty (30) days following the receipt of the Screening Decision.

Request a Hearing Review

The decision of the Hearing Officer is final.

You must have been issued a Screening Decision in order to have a Hearing Review. A Screening Review is the first step in the appeal process and must be completed before you can request a Hearing Review.

If you have a valid reason for missing the deadline to submit the Request for a Hearing Review, please contact us at aps@leamington.ca. Extensions may be granted if you demonstrate that there were Mitigating or Extenuating Circumstances that prevented you from submitting the Request for a Hearing Review by the due date (documentation may be required). The maximum extension is an additional 15 days.

Please note that Screening Officers and Hearing Officers have no authority to consider questions relating to the validity of statute, regulation, or By-law, or the constitutional applicability or operability of any statute, regulation or By-law.

The Administrative Penalty System is a municipal alternative to the provincial court system that administers and adjudicates by-law offences. The APS program transfers parking and other by-law disputes from the courtroom to the municipality.

Yes, you may authorize someone to act on your behalf by completing the Authorization to Act as Agent Form. The form must be submitted prior to the day of your scheduled appointment.

No, there is no fee for a Screening Review or Hearing Review.

You can pay the Penalty Notice in any of the follow methods:

Online Payments – COMING SOON!

In-Person at the Municipal Office:

111 Erie Street North, Leamington ON, N8H 2Z9

Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm.

By mailing a cheque or money order (cash is not accepted) to: the Municipality of Leamington, 111 Erie Street North, Leamington ON N8H 2Z9. Write the Penalty Notice Number on the front of your cheque or money order and make it payable to the Municipality of Leamington.

By placing a cheque or money order (cash is not accepted) in the 24/7 secure drop box located outside the Municipal Building. Write the Penalty Notice Number on the front of your cheque or money order and make it payable to the Municipality of Leamington.

You may submit a complaint via the Public Complaint Form.

Penalty Notices are issued by a Municipality of Leamington By-law Enforcement Officer or an Ontario Provincial Police Officer by doing any of the following:

• Affixing it to the vehicle
• Issuing it to the person at the time of the contravention
• Delivering it personally to the person
• Sending it by regular or registered mail to the Person’s last known address (which is considered issued on the 5th day after it is mailed)
• Sending it by email to the person’s last known email address

You can dispute the Penalty Notice by submitting a Request for a Screening Review. The Screening Officer will receive your submission and either affirm, vary, cancel or extend the time to pay the penalty.

You are responsible for bringing an interpreter, the Municipality does not provide interpreters.

• Animal Control By-law 668-06
• Business Licensing By-law 50-24
• Fireworks By-law 600-05
• Garage Sales By-law 629-05
• Greenhouse Light Abatement 41-22
• Land Maintenance By-law 840-08
• Noise By-law 51-18
• Open Air Fire and Burning By-law 34-10
• Parks 98-25
• Property Standards By-law 70-22
• Sign By-law 55-22
• Taxicab By-law 63-16
• Traffic and Parking of Vehicles 95-25
• Waste Management By-law 769-07

The Administration Penalty System was introduced to help the over-burdened courts by streamlining the process and allowing municipalities to handle parking and other by-law offences from start to finish. Under the traditional provincial court system, resolution of these matters can take months to years in the congested court system. Under APS, parking and other by-law matters can be resolved in weeks. APS is generally more effective because:

• Matters can be resolved in a more convenient and citizen friendly environment;
• You are able to continue to exercise your right to dispute the Administrative Penalty by requesting a Screening Review and Hearing Review;
• You are provided an opportunity to request an extension of a deadline in applicable circumstances;
• You are able to avoid the congested timeline in courts;
• The municipality is able to deal with contraventions in a timely manner.

If you ignore the Penalty Notice, the Municipality assumes you have decided not to dispute it. You may be required to pay additional Administrative Fees. Additionally, the Penalty Notice and Administrative Fees remain unpaid, the Municipality may take action to ensure collection such as notifying the Ministry of Transportation of the default which shall result in licence plate denial or adding the fees to your property tax roll.

Under mitigating or extenuating circumstances, you may be granted an extension to request a Screening Review or Hearing Review. Please email aps@leamington.ca or call 519-326-5761 ext. 1120 for more details.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the Screening Review you can Request a Hearing Review within 30 days of the Screening Review Decision.

The Hearing Officer’s decision is final.