What is the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS)?
The Administrative Monetary Penalty System, otherwise known as "AMPS" is a municipally administered program that replaces the current Court system with a faster, more flexible and customer focused adjudication process for by-law offences. One of the main objectives of an AMPS program is to create a simple, accessible, fair and cost-effective system of dealing with by-law violations.
Benefits of the Administrative Monetary Penalty System
Under the previous system tickets were disputed in the Ontario Court of Justice. A municipality has limited opportunity to present a flexible alternative to settle these disputes.
AMPS moves disputes out of the court system and gives municipalities the discretion to resolve tickets at a screening review. A person who disagrees with the decision of the screening officer can request a hearing before a hearing officer.
The new system will be more efficient, user friendly and less intimidating. AMPS will maintain the fundamental principles of justice and due process. Under this new process, most ticket escalations will be resolved within 90 days – much faster than the previous, court-based system.