Administrative Monetary Penalties
The Township of Puslinch uses the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) to process and adjudicate contraventions of its regulatory by-laws and provincial regulations, including site alteration, heavy vehicle, noise, and more.
The AMP system is designed to streamline the enforcement of, and increase compliance with Township by-laws. Under AMPS, Penalty Notice disputes are handled by the municipality through the use of Screening and Hearing Officers who are able to modify, cancel, or affirm penalties. This approach is designed to reduce congestion in the courts and to provide a local, accessible and efficient dispute resolution system.
View the Administrative Monetary Penalty System By-law on our By-law page and to better under the process click through the information provided below.
Paying a Penalty Notice
Pay Online
All Penalty Notices can be paid online through the Townships Payment Processing Form.
*Online payment are subject to a 1.75% service fee.
Other Methods
Pay in Person
Pay in person with the Customer Service at the Township of Puslinch Municipal Office, 7404 Wellington Road 34, Puslinch, ON N0B 2J0.
Pay By Mail
Using cheque or money order payable to the Township of Puslinch only to the following address:
Township of Puslinch,
7404 Wellington Road 34,
Puslinch, ON
N0B 2J0.
*Ensure that all payments made by mail have ample time to be processed by the Township.
Dispute a Penalty Notice
Screening Review
Every person who is issued a Penalty Notice has the right to dispute the Penalty Notice by requesting a Screening Review within 30 days of the issuance of the Penalty Notice.
After review of a Screening Review request, a Screening Officer may:
- affirm the administrative penalty, including any administrative fee(s)
- cancel or reduce the Administrative Penalty, including any administrative fee(s),
- or extend the time for payment of the administrative penalty, including any administrative fee(s)
If you wish to dispute your penalty notice, fill out and submit the following form by following the instructions enlisted:
PLEASE NOTE:
* All Screening Reviews will be held either in writing or via phone. If you require accommodation, you should inform the Township as soon as possible.
* Language interpreters are not provided by the Township, and you are responsible for providing your own.
* If you have a scheduled screening review over the phone and fail to answer the phone or call back the officer within 30 minutes of your appointment time, your administrative penalty will be increased by $25.
Hearing Review
If a person wishes to dispute the screening decision, a person may request a Hearing Appeal by the following the link below no later than 30 days after the date of service of the Screening Decision:
After a Hearing Appeal request, a Hearing Officer may:
- affirm the administrative penalty, including any administrative fee(s)
- cancel or reduce the Administrative Penalty, including any administrative fee(s),
- or extend the time for payment of the administrative penalty, including any administrative fee(s)
The Hearing Officer is not bound to the decision of the Screening Officer and the decision of the Hearing Officer is final.
PLEASE NOTE:
* All Hearing Appeals will be held hybrid, virtually or in writing. If you require accommodation, you should inform the Township as soon as possible.
* Language interpreters are not provided by the Township, and you are responsible for providing your own.
* If you have a scheduled hearing appeal and fail to attendant the scheduled hybrid or virtual hearing date and time, your administrative penalty will be increased by $50.
Request for Extension of Time Review
If you received a Penalty Notice and have a valid reason needing additional time to request a screening or hearing review, you can request an extension for review. This request must be made within 30 days after the effective date of service.
Additional Information
AMPS Overview
The Township has created a simple flow chart of the AMPS Process.
Why you should act now
To avoid additional administrative fees, we strongly recommend making your payment promptly or file a screening review. Failure to do so within the first 30 days will result in the following actions:
- After 30 days: A late payment notice will be issued, and additional administrative fees will be applied and the Administrative Penalty and any applicable fees may be added to the property owner’s tax roll and collected as municipal taxes. For non-residents, the Township may pursue other available collection methods.
Act early to prevent extra charges and ensure timely compliance.
Additional fees you could incur
Under certain circumstances, additional fees can be applied for specific reasons pertaining to your administrative penalty:
- Late payment of parking administrative penalty – $25
- Late payment of administrative penalty – 25% of set penalty amount
- Screening review non-appearance fee – $25
- Hearing appeal non-appearance fee – $50
- MTO Search Fee – $10
Policies
Questions
Please review our frequently asked questions below.
For any further questions, please contact the Township’s By-law Enforcement Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Penalty Notice?
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 Law Enforcement Officer to an individual or corporation when they have committed a by-law infraction. This is a sample of a Penalty Notice:
How is a penalty notice issued?
A Municipal Law Enforcement Officer can issue a penalty notice by:
- Personally delivering to the Person to whom it is addressed
- Personally delivering it to an occupant who appears to be at least sixteen (16) years of age at the last known address of the person named in the penalty notice.
- Regular or Registered Mail (deemed delivered five (5) days after mailing)
For more information, please review Section 5 of the AMPS By-law.
I don’t agree with the penalty notice I’ve received, can I dispute it?
Yes. To dispute a penalty notice, complete the online form in the AMPS portal to schedule a screening review. You will have the opportunity to provide evidence such as photographs to support your claims.
How much time do I have to dispute my penalty notice?
If you wish to dispute your penalty notice, you have thirty (30) days from the date you received your penalty notice to request a screening review by filling out the online through the AMPS Portal.
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 no later than thirty (30) days after the date of service of the Screening Decision.
The Hearing Officer’s decision is final.
What will happen if I ignore my penalty notice?
If you do not choose one of the options listed on the back of your penalty notice, the Township of Puslinch will assume you have decided not to dispute the penalty notice and you may be required to pay additional administrative fees.
Where an Administrative Penalty, and any applicable Administrative Fee(s), are not paid by the Person to whom the Penalty Notice was issued to within thirty (30) days after the date on which they are due and payable, the Township may:
- Notify the Ministry of the default which shall result in plate denial;
- Add the Administrative Penalty, and any applicable Administrative Fee(s) to the tax roll and collect it in the same manner as municipal taxes;
- Pursue any other collection mechanisms available to the Township.