Cobourg is the first municipality in the County to take on this program
The Town of Cobourg’s Legislative Services Division has launched the Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMP) system providing a local and accessible dispute resolution system for municipal parking bylaw infractions.
The AMP system is a process for payment, appeal and collection of minor by-law infractions. Disputes will now be resolved by Screening and Hearings Officers who can modify, cancel, or affirm penalties.
In Ontario, municipal AMPs are legislated under the Municipal Act, 2001. This system helps the court system by streamlining the process and allowing municipalities to efficiently handle minor by-law infractions. The Town of Cobourg is the first municipality in the County to take on this program.
“AMPS is an alternate system to the lengthy and costly provincial courts process previously in place,” says Brent Larmer, Municipal Clerk and Director of Legislative Services for the Town of Cobourg. “AMPS provides an objective, and efficient process where penalty notices are issued, managed, and reviewed internally.”
Any community member who has received a ticket or fine (an AMP), may request a review through the Town of Cobourg’s appeal process. The Town of Cobourg will be phasing in the AMP system, starting with parking tickets and fines, followed by other municipal by-law infractions.
Benefits of AMPS:
• Improved Customer Service: regulatory matters can be resolved online with the Town of Cobourg without the requirement of courts, justice of the peace, or the officer that issued the charge, etc.
• Expediency and Convenience: AMPS provides a fair, efficient and convenient alternative to the traditional court process of administering and adjudicating minor by-law offences. Wait time may be significantly reduced compared to the court system.
• Improved Compliance: AMPS decisions are made more quickly, improving wait times between date of issue and date of hearing.
• Fiscal Efficiency: AMPS doesn’t require the same capital and operating investments of the traditional court system, operating with fewer staff and less administrative overhead.
Administrative fees applied would be maintained by the municipality instead of going to the court system.
Improved Customer Service The Town of Cobourg Municipal Law Enforcement Team is now operating out of the Market Building (201 Second Street).
For questions regarding parking or any municipal by-laws, Municipal Law Enforcement staff are available to answer questions, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Pay a Parking Ticket: Payment can be made online at www.Cobourg.ca/amp, by mail, by phone, or in person at the Tax Office in Victoria Hall (55 King Street West, Cobourg. 24/7 deposit box mail slot also available on west side of building).
To learn more, visit www.Cobourg.ca/amp or contact the Municipal Law Enforcement office at 905-372-8380.
