How to Request a Screening of a Penalty Notice

Penalty Notices

As of July 1, 2014, parking tickets will be referred to as Penalty Notices.  See the information below on paying penalty notices and how to dispute them.  Should you have any further questions, please contact our Town Municipal Offices at 905-468-3266 or info@notl.com. 

Paying a Penalty Notice

Penalty notices can be paid in the following ways:

  • Online or by Telephone - Payments can be made by Visa or MasterCard through Paymentus, a third-party service, either online or by calling 1-855-288-4097.  A $3 service charge will be applied. 
  • By mail - Send a cheque or money order payable to the following address:
    Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
    1593 Four Mile Creek Road, PO Box 100
    Virgil, ON  L0S 1T0
    Note: Do not send cash in the mail
  • Drop Off Boxes at the Municipal Offices (located near the staff entrance): Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Municipal Office, 1593 Four Mile Creek Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake
  • Parking Machines - Payment can be made at any parking machine
  • Drop-off Boxes - Cheque and money order payments can be left in any of the 5 red drop-off boxes located conveniently throughout the Town (see below). The locations are also listed on the reverse of the penalty notice.  If you require a receipt of payment, include your address along with a note requesting a receipt.
  • Not Paid Notice - If no action is taken to pay a penalty notice, it will ultimately result in default and your Ontario vehicle permit may be denied by the Ministry of Transportation (Service Ontario). Renewal of existing or the issuance of new Ontario vehicle permits will not be granted until payment is made including all applicable fees.

Disputing a Penalty Notice

As of July 1, 2014, penalty notices $400 or less will be reviewed by a Screening Officer.  Changes to the dispute process are part of an Administrative Penalties System (APS) introduced province-wide under Ontario Regulation 333/07 of the Municipal Act, 2001.  See the Town's Procedure for Administrative Penalty System (APS) Screening/Hearing Reviews.

Dispute Process

  1. Request a Meeting with a Screening Officer - Screening appointments during this time will be conducted via Electronic Telephone Conference.
    A request for review by a Screening Officer must be made within 15 calendar days of the issuance of the penalty notice.  The Screening process is to review and determine whether or not the parking infraction was committed. 
    A completed Request for Screening Form can be submitted to the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake by:
    • Letter Mail to: Administrative Penalty System Appeals, Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, PO Box 100, Virgil, ON L0S 1T0​
    • E-mail scanned copy to: parking@notl.com  
    • Fax to: 905-468-2959
    • Drop Off Boxes at the Municipal Offices (located near the staff entrance): Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Municipal Office, 1593 Four Mile Creek Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake
    • Completed on-line; Request for Screening Form
  2. You will be given an appointment for an electronic telephone conference with a Screening Officer(s).
    The Screening Officer is a Town employee who has been appointed by Town Council and is bound by Conflict of Interest guidelines.
    • Electronic Screening Appointments:
      • Screening appointments are scheduled once each month and as needed.  
      • Your preference for a time will be considered but cannot be guaranteed.
      • You will be permitted a 15 minute time slot between 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, but you should make yourself available for the two hour window.
      • A Notice will be sent to you confirming the date and time of your electronic Screening appointment.
      • In addition, you will be provided with instructions to connect to the electronic screening appointment on your computer, tablet or phone, should you choose that option.
      • Screening appointments cannot be rescheduled or adjourned.
      • Should you fail to be available during the scheduled time this matter will be considered abandoned.and the Administrative Penalty will be affirmed, in addition a fee for having failed to appear will be levied.  
      • Screening appointments cannot be rescheduled or adjourned.
      • If you are requesting an extension of time to request a screening, please include the reasons on your Request for Screening Form.
  3. If you are not satisfied with the decision made by the Screening Officer, you can request a review by a Hearing Officer
    The request to meet with a Hearing Officer must be made within 15 calendar days of your Screening decision. The Hearing Officer is an independent third party person who is appointed by Town Council and bound by Conflict of Interest guidelines and the Statutory Powers Procedure Act. The Hearing Officer's decision is final.

Should you have any further questions regarding this process, please contact our Town Municipal Offices at 905-468-3266, By-Law Enforcement at ext. 226 or 0 for Customer Service. 

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