Administrative Penalty System: Financial Control and Reporting Policy

1. Policy Statement

All financial controls and reporting responsibilities under the Administrative Penalty System (APS) are administered in accordance with the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 71, Financial Control, and are the responsibility of the Controller, Executive Director, Court Services, General Manager, Transportation Services, and the City Solicitor.

2. Purpose

This policy ensures all financial control and reporting responsibilities related to the APS follow existing corporate policies and procedures related to financial management and reporting.

Ontario Regulation 611/06, Administrative Penalties, which applies to parking violations, requires the establishment of a policy regarding financial management and reporting in relation to the APS. Although Ontario Regulation 355/22, Administrative Penalties for Contraventions Detected Using Camera Systems, which applies the red light camera and automated speed enforcement violations, does not have the same requirement, this policy is being implemented for these violations as well as a best practice.

3. Definitions

“APS” – means Administrative Penalty System.

“City” – means City of Toronto.

“Enforcement Officer” – has the same meaning as set out in Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 610, Penalties, Administration of.

“Hearing Officer” – has the same meaning as set out in Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 610, Penalties, Administration of.

“Penalty Notice” – has the same meaning as set out in Toronto Municipal Code 610, Penalties, Administration of.

“Screening Officer” – has the same meaning as set out in Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 610, Penalties, Administration of.

“Violation” – has the same meaning as set out in Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 610, Penalties, Administration of.

4. Policy

4.1. Procedures

Screening Officers, Hearing Officers and Enforcement Officers do not have the authority to accept any payment from any person in respect of an administrative penalty. In addition any other person issuing a Penalty Notice is not permitted to accept payment in respect of an administrative penalty.

If a person has paid any administrative fees in respect of an administrative penalty and the penalty is subsequently cancelled by a Screening Officer or Hearing Officer, the City will refund in full the administrative fees to the person.

All City employees engaged in the administration of the APS shall ensure all work activities are conducted in accordance with Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 192, Public Service. City employees will ensure compliance with corporate and/or departmental cash/payment handling procedures for financial stewardship.

4.2 Methods of payment

A payment for a Penalty/Violation Notice may be made by using one of the following methods:

  • Online – American Express, Visa or MasterCard, debit card, or electronic funds transfer using the APS Services online lookup
  • In Person – cash, cheque, traveller’s cheque, money order, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or debit card at one of the following City service counter locations:
    • City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Main Floor
    • North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge Street, Lower Level
    • York Civic Centre, 2700 Eglinton Avenue West, Main Floor
    • East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Avenue, Main Floor
    • Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall, Main Floor
    • Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Drive, Main Floor
    • Toronto South Court Office, 60 Queen Street West
    • Toronto East Court Office, 1530 Markham Road
    • Toronto West Court Office, 2700 Eglinton Avenue West
  • By Mail – cheque or money order made payable to the City of Toronto APS Operations, to:

Parking Violation Notices:
City of Toronto
APS Operations
Box 4282, Postal Station “A”
Toronto, ON M5W 5W5

RLC/ASE Penalty Orders:
City of Toronto
APS Operations
Box 9351, Postal Station “A”
Toronto, ON M5W 5W5

Any payment made by cheque, traveller’s cheque or money order must include the Penalty/Violation Notice number.

Payments made by mail must allow sufficient time for delivery as the City does not consider payment to have been made until it is received by the City. Late payments are subject to an administrative fee.

Dishonoured cheques are subject to an administrative fee.

4.3. Administrative penalties and fees

An administrative penalty is be due and payable by the recipient of Penalty Notice and administrative fees may be payable by the recipient of a Penalty Notice, as set out in Toronto Municipal Code 610, Penalties, Administration of.

On receipt of a Penalty Notice payment, staff will apply the payment to a specific Penalty Notice in the City’s Point-of-Sale terminals. The Penalty Notice will reflect “paid” status.

Payments will be processed by staff using the following methods:

  • In Person – Apply the various methods of payments to the Penalty Notice. Provide a person with a receipt of payment for their records.
  • By Mail – Apply the cheque payment to the Penalty Notice. Mail receipt if requested by the person.
  • Online – The person enters their Penalty Notice and related information into the database and makes a payment with their credit card, debit card, or electronic funds transfer information. The person may print a receipt of payment with the confirmation number for their files. (An administrative fee may apply.)

Procedures may be implemented by the Controller, Director, Court Services and City Solicitor to address specific implementation of this policy.

5. Legislation, by-laws and related policies

5.1 Legislation

  • City of Toronto Act, 2006, and Ontario Regulation 611/06, Administrative Penalties.
  • Highway Traffic Act and Ontario Regulation 355/22, Administrative Penalties for Contravention Detected Using Camera Systems.

5.2 By-laws

  • Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 71, Financial Control
  • Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 192, Public Service
  • Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 610, Penalties, Administration of

5.3 Policies

  • RS (Revenue Services) -CS-02 Cash Handling

6. Council authority

 

7.  Administrative responsibilities for the policy

This policy is administered by the Controller.

8.  Contact

Questions or comments about this Policy, including reports of contraventions that are not otherwise addressed in the Policy, can be made to:

Controller
c/o Director, Revenue Services
North York Civic Center
5100 Yonge St., Lower Floor
Toronto, ON
M2N 5V7