Parking permits

AMPS is a municipally administered program that replaces the traditional dispute methods through the courts with a more efficient and customer-friendly process. The key drivers of an AMPS program is to create a fair, streamlined and simple system of dealing with municipal violations or provincial regulations.

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville uses AMPS to assist customers wishing to dispute penalties for contraventions of its regulatory by-laws and provincial regulations.

You have two options when you receive a Penalty Notice:

1. Pay your ticket:
   1. Online within 30 days with Visa or MasterCard.
   2. In person at Town Hall (111 Sandiford Drive) during regular business hours
   3. By mail using a cheque or money order payable to The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville and mailed to the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Attn: AMPS Division 111 Sandiford Drive, Stouffville, ON L4A 0Z8. If you are paying by mail, your payment must be received on or before the due date to avoid additional fees.
2. Dispute your Penalty Notice: If you wish to challenge your Penalty Notice, you may request a Screening Review. The Screening Review must be requested within 30 days from the date the Penalty Notice was issued. A Screening Officer may reduce, cancel, or affirm your Penalty Notice based on circumstances and evidence.  

Please submit your evidence on the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Screening Request page when you are requesting a Screening. Evidence may include copies of any documents such as photographs, receipts, authorization letters from Condominium Boards, rental agreements, leases, medical certificates, or other information that may be pertinent to your specific circumstances.

You may have a representative or interpreter assist you with your Screening Review, if you require assistance. However, if you are having a representative, you must complete an Authorization to Act as an Agent Form and submit it with your dispute documents. This must be signed by you, as the registered owner of the vehicle. For Parking Penalty Notices, this form must be signed by the Registered Owner.  For all other non-parking Penalty Notices, the Form must be signed by the property owner located within the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, the Town has options to assist you, such as requesting additional time to pay your Penalty Notice. If you are experiencing financial hardship, please review the Financial Hardship Policy. You will be required to submit documentation to substantiate your claim.  Examples of documentation are included in the Financial Hardship Policy.

If you wish to request a Hearing Review, you may do so only after your Screening Review has been completed and you have a Screening Decision.

A Hearing Review can be requested by emailing amps@townofws.ca. Once you’ve requested a Hearing Review, you will receive an email to notify you of the scheduled date and time and will be provided with additional information related to your upcoming Hearing.

Hearing Reviews will take place virtually between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.  You must be available and connected to the virtual meeting at least 10 minutes before your scheduled hearing time.

You may bring witnesses to the Hearing Review, however, this is not a requirement. You will receive a disclosure package from the Town prior to your Hearing Review.

The Issuing Officer may be in attendance at the Hearing Review, or another representative (Officer, Supervisor, Manager) from the Town and may present the evidence on their behalf. 

If you or your representative fails to appear on the date and time of your Hearing Review your Penalty will be increased by $60.

Please note that the Town does not provide translation services for Hearing Reviews. If you require a language interpreter you are responsible for retaining your own, such as a friend, family member, or colleague.

The Town will present its evidence first and then you will have an opportunity to present your own evidence and/or reasons for disputing the Penalty. The Hearing Officer will review the evidence and make a decision. The decision of a Hearing Officer is final.

AMPS has significant benefits and provides a modern, more efficient model to deal with or dispute municipal violations. Other benefits include:

• Customer friendly
• Quicker resolution
• Options to dispute online, in-person or by email
• No need to attend Court
• Options to reduce penalty violations depending on circumstances

1. Penalty Notice Received
   1. Pay Penalty Notice
   2. Dispute Penalty Notice
      1. Request a Screening 
2. Screening Review Occurs
   1. Penalty Is Cancelled
   2. Penalty is Reduced   
   3. Penalty Is Affirmed       
3. Customer can request a Hearing to escalate their Dispute
4. Hearing Appointment is Scheduled
   1. Penalty Is Cancelled
   2. Penalty is Reduced   
   3. Penalty Is Affirmed    
5. If Penalty Notice and any Administration Fees are not paid, the Penalty and any Administration Fees will be sent to the Ministry of Transportation/ServiceOntario for parking offences or added to the Property Tax Account for property related offences.

• Authorization to Act as an Agent Form
• Undue Hardship in Relation to the Administration of the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS)
• Appointment of Screening and Hearing Officer
• Conflict of Interest
• Filing of Complaints
• Financial Management and Reporting for the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS)
• Complaints Submission Form
• AMPS By-law
• Screening and Hearing Officer By-law
• Preventing Political Interference in Relation to the Administration of the Administrative Monetary Penalty System