Frequently Asked Questions
| What is the victim fine surcharge? |
| As of January 1, 1995 all provincial offences fines except for parking infractions carry a victim fine surcharge. The surcharge operates on a sliding scale, depending on the amount of the fine. All surcharge monies are credited to the Victim's Justice Fund. Money in the fund is used to support programs that provide assistance to victims or witnesses of a provincial or federal crime.
The victim fine surcharge must be paid in full; otherwise, enforcement proceedings can be taken (such as driver licence suspension) by the Provincial Offences Court, regardless of the outstanding amount owing. |
| How do I request accommodation? |
| If you or someone that you represent has a disability and needs accessible services or accommodation at our court location, please contact the POA Supervisor at 613-267-3311, extension 2244.
Please make your request for accommodation as far in advance as possible. It may not be possible to provide an accommodation or support unless we receive enough advance notice. If it is not possible to provide your preferred disability-related accommodation, we will work with you to explore different options. Please note that judicial officials have authority over court proceedings and what happens in a court room. If you need disability-related accommodation for a court proceeding, a judicial official will usually be informed of your request for accommodation and may need to approve it. We can assist you with this process if that is the case. The types of accommodation that we can provide will depend on your disability, the purpose of your visit to the courthouse, and the availability of different types of equipment and services. Here are some examples:
|
| What happens if I don't do anything after I have received a ticket? |
| After 15 days have passed, the charge can be place on Fail to Respond docket. When the Justice of the Peace reviews the Offence Notice he/she may convict you in absentia. |
| What happens if I don't pay my fine or don't pay my fine in full? |
Failure to pay your fine imposed upon conviction by the due date may result in one or more of the following:
This list is not exhaustive of the methods that may be used in an effort to collect the outstanding defaulted fine. Payment plans can be arranged with the help of the collections staff. If a payment plan is approved by the Justice of the Peace, it will prevent further enforcement initiatives if the payment plan is adhered to. Contact Valorie for assistance with a payment plan at 613-326-3122. |
| I don't understand exactly what the charge means. How can I find out more information? |
| To find out more information about your charge, please go to the Ministry of the Attorney General website and select the "Current Consolidated Law" option. Look up the statute of the offence with which you have been charged. |
| How can I find out about the current status of my driving record? |
| All driving record information is maintained and administered by the Ministry of Transportation. To find out how to receive a driving record abstract, please go to the Ministry of Transportation website and select English(or preferred language), Drivers, Ministry Online Services, Driver and Vehicle, Drivers Licenses option. |
| Why are there two amounts on my ticket? |
| One amount is the set fine and the second is the total payable. The total payable consists of the set fine, court costs and the victim fine surcharge. The TOTAL PAYABLE is due to the Provincial Offences Court. The set fine is ordered by the Chief Judge of the Ontario Court of Justice as the amount you must pay instead of attending court to contest the charge. Court costs are an amount you must pay for the service of the ticket and/or summons and upon conviction of an offence. The costs are authorized by Section 60 of the Provincial Offences Act and the amount is set by regulation. |
| My driver's licence has been suspended because I did not pay my fine by the due date. What should I do now? |
| The Provincial Offences Court will suspend a driver's licence for non-payment of most fines and victim fine surcharges. If this happens, you must pay the total amount outstanding at any Provincial Offences Court or Service Ontario location (for convictions after May 1, 2010). In either case, a $40.00 enforcement fee will be added to the total.
If payment is made at the court, you are required to go to your local Ministry of Transportation office to pay your reinstatement fee. When the reinstatement fee has been paid (and there are no other fines outstanding or other reasons for suspension), your licence will be reinstated within 3 to 5 business days ***Licences may be reinstated the same day if fines are paid at Service Ontario (eligible fines with conviction dates after May 1, 2010 only).*** |
| Why does it take 3 to 5 business days to reinstate my licence? |
| Once the Provincial Offences Court receives your payment, the Defaulted Fines Control Centre (Ministry of the Attorney General) is advised electronically through an overnight batch reporting system.
The Defaulted Fines Control Centre administers all defaulted fines for the Province of Ontario. Once they have been notified, they will clear the suspension from their records and then notify the Ministry of Transportation within 2 to 3 business days. The Ministry of Transportation will then require an additional day to update your driving record on its system. ***Payment of eligible fines at Service Ontario can result in same-day licence reinstatement.*** |
| Why am I notified of my suspension after I have been suspended? |
| The Ministry of the Attorney General changed its procedures several years ago, including no longer providing notice of the "pending suspension". It was determined that notice was no longer required because defendants had already been provided with notice of a pending suspension for non-payment of a fine through two methods: a ticket (indicated on the back) and a Notice of Fine and Due Date. |
| Do you have a complaint? |
| The information in this brochure deals with complaints of misconduct against a Provincial Judge or a Justice of the Peace. |