Frequently Asked Questions

An Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) is a municipal process for handling certain by-law violations without going through the provincial court system. If a Penalty Notice is issued, you can:

• Pay the penalty, or 
• Request a review through the Township's AMPS process

This means a Penalty Notice may be reviewed first by a Screening Officer and, if applicable, by a Hearing Officer, in accordance with the Township's AMPS By-law. 

This approach helps reduce court congestion while offering a local, accessible, and efficient resolution process for residents. In addition, the matter is often resolved more promptly, through a format that is easier to understand.

Penalty Notices are tickets issued by the Township when an Officer believes a designated by-law has been contravened. The Penalty Notice will indicate the details of the contravention, the amount owing, the due date, payment options, and information about how to request a screening review. 

Penalty Notices may be served by one of the following methods: 

• Affixing it to the vehicle 
• Delivering it personally 
• By mail 
• By email 
• By fax 

You generally have two options: 

• Pay the Penalty Notice - if you do not wish to dispute the Penalty Notice, you can pay the amount owing by the due date shown on the Penalty Notice 
• Request a Screening Review - if you believe the Penalty Notice was issued in error, or you want your circumstances considered, you may request a Screening Review. 

Penalty Notices can be paid online, in person at the Municipal Office, or by mail to 1 MacDonald Square, Elora, ON N0B 1S0 - Attn: AMPS.  

Yes. Under specific circumstances administrative fees can be applied to the total amount due. For example: 

• Ministry of Transportation (MTO) fee 
• Plate denial fee
• Late payment fee
• Mailing fee 
• Non-appearance fee 
• etc. 

Any applicable fees are added in accordance with the Township's AMPS By-law and Fees and Charges By-law. Fees are subject to change. 

A current listing of fees is available on the Administrative Monetary Penalty System main page. 

To dispute a Penalty Notice, you must request a Screening Review with a Screening Officer. Please see the "How to Dispute a Penalty Notice" page for more information.

Yes. You can choose to have someone else act as an agent. If you wish to have someone act on your behalf, please complete the Authorized Agent section on the on-line Request for Screening form. 

Yes. Some contraventions may be added to property taxes, and collected in the same manner, if left unpaid. 

No. Once a Penalty Notice has been paid, there is no option to dispute the matter. 

A Notice of Penalty Due Date means the penalty was not paid by the due date. You should act immediately by paying the amount owing or contacting the Township via the methods indicated on the Notice if you believe there is an error or need to confirm whether any review option remains available. Additional fees may apply.

A Screening Officer reviews the Penalty Notice and any information you submit. The Screening Officer may:

• affirm the penalty,
• cancel the penalty,
• reduce the penalty, or
• extend the time for payment

Screening Reviews are conducted in writing. You are not required to attend the Screening Review. 

If you had a valid accessible parking permit at the time, you may request a Screening Review and provide supporting documentation.

Please fill out a Request for Screening form online.  We highly recommend that you include a valid copy of your accessible parking permit along with any other pertinent documentation.  This may include a request for specific accommodation during the screening (i.e. in person). If you are struggling financially, it is important that you include documents that support this claim (i.e. disability, old age security, pension forms).