Municipal Tickets
The Municipal Ticket Information System, also known as a Municipal Ticket or and an MTI, resembles a provincial violation ticket. A Bylaw Compliance Officer can certify the allegation and deliver the ticket to the alleged offender without first visiting a provincial court justice to swear the information and obtain a summons. The alleged offender may then choose to admit to the offence and pay the penalty without appearing in court.
Ultimately, when efforts at obtaining compliance with municipal bylaws have failed, Bylaw Compliance Officers must decide whether the contravention of the bylaws requires enforcement of the bylaw by issuance of a fine. Municipal Tickets are issued for both parking violations and municipal bylaw violations.
Fines & Payments
The penalty established for any contravention enforced through a municipal ticket may not exceed $1,000 -- the current maximum penalty permitted under the Community Charter Bylaw Enforcement Ticket Regulation. The penalty is the amount that must be paid to avoid an appearance in court or a deemed conviction. If the ticket is disputed, the justice hearing the case may impose a lesser fine if there are mitigating circumstances.
For more information on municipal tickets and fine amounts, please refer to the District of North Cowichan Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw.
Responding to a Ticket
Upon being served with a municipal ticket, which may be personally delivered or left at a person's place of residence with someone who appears to be at least 16 years of age, a person has 14 calendar days in which to pay the fine amount specified on the ticket and accept liability for the offence or notify the District of North Cowichan that they wish to dispute the ticket.
Disputed Tickets
Disputed municipal tickets are referred by North Cowichan to the provincial court for hearing. Upon referral, the clerk of the court issues a notice of a hearing that sets the time and place for the hearing and notifies both the District of North Cowichan and the disputant.
The penalties associated with a municipal ticket information do not place the alleged contravener in jeopardy of imprisonment, and the fine amounts are relatively small, therefore the presiding justice has some flexibility to hear a wider range of relevant, credible and trustworthy testimony as evidence and to adopt procedures that speed the fair conclusion of the hearing.
If a person has indicated that they wish to dispute the allegation and fails to attend the hearing, the justice must review the ticket and convict the person in their absence and impose the penalty if the ticket appears to be in order. A person convicted in their absence who was not at fault for missing the hearing, may apply to the court for a time extension under limited circumstances.
Visit the Disputing a Ticket webpage for more information on how to dispute a ticket.
Failing to Respond to a Ticket
If a person fails to respond to the ticket at all, neither paying the fine nor notifying the municipality that they want to dispute, the District of North Cowichan may submit the ticket to the court for consideration by a justice. The justice must review the ticket and convict the person in his or her absence and impose the penalty if the ticket appears to be in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I pay a ticket?
For payment options click here.
2. If I pay by mail or dropbox, what information must I include?
Your payment must be accompanied by either a copy of the ticket or a note with the following information: ticket number, full name, address, offence and violation date. If you fail to include this information, the payment may not be credited to you and the fine will remain outstanding.
3. What happens if I do not pay my tickets?
If the fine is not paid or the allegation contained in the ticket is not disputed within 14 days from the date of service of the ticket, you will be deemed to have pleaded guilty to the offence charged and the fine amount will be immediately payable.
Tickets that remain unpaid thirty (30) days after being deemed guilty will be sent off to collections.
4. How much time do I have to dispute my ticket?
If you wish to dispute, you have up to fourteen (14) days from the date of service shown on the face of the ticket to deliver, have delivered or mail your notice of dispute. Your notice of dispute must be postmarked on or before the 14th day from the date of service of the ticket.
5. What happens after my dispute has been received?
You will receive notice in the mail from the Provincial Court Registry informing you of the time and location of your hearing. If you do not attend the Court on the indicated date, the ticket will be treated as not disputed, you will be deemed to have pleaded guilty to the offence charged and the fine amount will be immediately payable.
6. Who is responsible for a parking ticket?
The registered owner of the vehicle is responsible for their vehicle at all times. A parking ticket is the responsibility of the registered owner, regardless of who was driving the vehicle when the ticket was issued.
