AMPS

The Administrative Monetary Penalty System

What is AMPS:

• It is an efficient process for collecting, appealing and paying penalties associated with non-compliance of a By-law, Regulation or Act

• It uses a compliance-based approach, not criminal in nature, adopted by municipalities across Ontario

• It is a review system of “screenings” and “hearings”, conducted by the Town of Lincoln
• It improves safety and by-law compliance in the community
   

Penalty Notice Payment Options:

You have 15 days from the issue date entered on your penalty notice to pay the infraction. 

1. Pay online

2. By mail – send the payment (cheque ONLY) in the envelope that was included with the Penalty Notice.
3. In person at Town Hall
    

Contact:

Monday to Friday during business hours (6 a.m. to 8 p.m.) & Saturday (6 a.m. to 8.p.m):

• Complete a By-law Complaint Form
• Call a By-law & Enforcement Officer: 905-563-2799 Ext. 289

Monday to Friday after hours (8 p.m. to 6 a.m.), Saturdays (before 9 a.m. and after 8 p.m.) & all day Sunday:

• Complete a By-law Complaint Form
• Call 905-563-2799 Ext. 289 – leave a voice message, a By-law & Enforcement Officer will return your call the next business morning
• If the nature of the complaint is:
  1. An active noise concern, OR,
  2. Parking-related issue that is a safety concern (i.e., fire hydrant obstruction, sight line issue at corner clearance, vehicle stopped on major roadway)
  • Please contact Niagara Regional Police at 905-945-2211, select Option “1”
     

Screenings and Hearings:

You can dispute a parking penalty notice (ticket) by booking a screening with a screening officer at the Town of Lincoln. To book a screening please contact contact Municipal Law Enforcement at 905-563-2799 ext. 280.

• You have 15 days from the date of the penalty notice to request a screening. The screening decision will result in either ticket payment, adjustment or cancellation.

• Only after a screening decision has been given, are you then able to dispute the outcome with a hearing officer – you are unable to go directly to a hearing
• Screenings are scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, between 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
  • Results of the screenings will be given to the person once the screening has been completed and the results reviewed
  • This decision can be given via email or mail, based on your preferences
• Hearings are scheduled once per month and take place at the City of Thorold offices with a hearing officer.
• Please note: if you do not attend your scheduled screening or hearing appointment given to you, there will be a non-appearance fee charged to you and added to the notice amount.

Additional Fees:

• After 15 days, a MTO search fee will be added, and after 30 days, late fees and an MTO Plate Denial Fee will be added to the original infraction amount.
• If you drive away before an officer can place a notice on your vehicle, an additional $10 fee will apply.
  • This will be charged as an MTO (Ministry of Transportation Ontario) search fee and added to your ticket to cover the cost of the MTO license plate search.
  • Subsequently, the ticket will be mailed to the address associated with that license plate. You will still have 15 days to pay the ticket.
• No-show for a screening is $50.00 and for a hearing it is $100.00.