What are my options?

What are my options if I receive a provincial offence ticket?

Within 15 days, you must choose one of the following three options:

Important

If you do not exercise one of the three options within 15 days of receiving your Provincial Offences Notice, you will be deemed not to dispute the charge and a Justice of the Peace may enter a conviction against you.  Upon conviction, additional costs will be added to the total payable.  If the fine goes into default, an administrative fee will be added and steps will be taken to enforce your defaulted fine.  For example, information may be provided to a consumer reporting agency and for certain offences, including speeding, your driver’s licence may be suspended.

Option 1 – Plea of Guilty – Voluntary Payment of Total Payable

By choosing this option, you are stating that you are guilty and you must pay the total payable as set out on your ticket.

Fine payments may be made either in person or by mail. If a partial payment is made, or if the defendant’s cheque is returned for insufficient funds, the fine will not be considered fully paid.

Option 2 – Plea of Guilty – Submissions as to Penalty

Please call 519-826-0762, press 1; or email [email protected] for dates, times and appearance methods.

The Justice of the Peace can

  • Reduce the amount of the set fine
  • Give you an extension of time in which you can pay the fine

The Justice of the Peace cannot

  • Reduce the charge; e.g. a speeding charge of 20 kilometres over the limit cannot be reduced to 15 kilometres
  • Remove or reduce the demerit points to be applied. Demerit points are applied by the Ministry of Transportation upon conviction and the court cannot change the demerit points to be applied.

Option 3 – Trial – Notice of Intention to Appear

If you wish to request a court date, you must sign the notice of intention to appear on the back of the ticket under Option 3: Trial Option or complete a Notice of Intention to Appear form. If you wish to participate in your trial remotely (by video), you must also fill out a Remote Appearance Method Request Form.

Any requests for trial and/or remote appearance forms may then be hand delivered, mailed or emailed, to the Court office and must be received by the Court within 15 days. A trial date will be set and mailed to you

What are my options if I receive a parking ticket?

Option 1: Plea of Guilty – Voluntary payment of total fine

By choosing this option, you are admitting that you are guilty and you must pay the total payable at the bottom of your ticket.

You can pay the fine online at guelph.ca/court, by mail or in person at 1 Carden Street or 59 Carden Street. Cheques should be payable to the City of Guelph.

Option 2: Requesting a trial date

Sign the back of your ticket or complete a Notice of Intention to Appear and submit to our office.

  • Email trial requests to [email protected]
  • Use the drop-box at City Hall, 1 Carden Street (west entrance)
  • Visit or mail a trial request to: Ontario Court of Justice, 59 Carden Street, Guelph, ON, N1H 2Z9

Online resources

Guide for Defendants in Provincial Offences Cases

This guide provides defendants with general information about the court process for provincial offences cases.

Guide to Appeals in Provincial Offences Cases

This guide provides general information about the court process for appeals under the Provincial Offences Act