The Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) is a process that the City of Port Colborne uses to deal with certain by-law violations without going to court.
AMPS applies to both parking and non-parking violations and allows the City to issue Penalty Notices to individuals or corporations.
AMPS is one of the tools the City uses to enforce its by-laws to help bring properties into compliance. It works in addition to other enforcement steps that the City may take to address a violation. Anyone who receives a Penalty Notice has the right to request a review of the penalty.
Why Does the City Use AMPS?
AMPS provides the City with the ability to issue penalties for by-law violations and support efforts to achieve compliance.
Instead of disputes being heard through the Provincial Court system, they are reviewed through the City by a Screening Officer and a Hearing Officer. This helps reduce demands on the court system while maintaining an independent review process for people who wish to dispute a penalty.
The City of Port Colborne began using AMPS for certain violations in September 2014.
How the Review Process Works
AMPS provides two levels of review:
Screening Review
The first level of review is conducted by a Screening Officer, who may confirm, reduce or cancel a penalty. Individuals may request an in-person review or a written review, which does not require them to attend in person to dispute their penalty.
Hearing Review
A Screening Officer's decision can be appealed to a Hearing Officer. The Hearing Officer's decision is final.