When City staff's efforts to obtain voluntary compliance with City bylaws have failed, Bylaw Compliance Officers must decide whether the contravention of a bylaw requires enforcement by issuance of a municipal ticket or whether to Lay an Information in Provincial Court under the BC Offence Act.
Submit a completed MTI dispute form. Disputes must be received within fourteen (14) days of the Ticket issued date and must include the MTI number, the reason for dispute and complete contact information (name, address, phone number, email address).
In order to ensure a consistent and equitable process, the City does not accept ticket disputes over the phone, or while Officers are in the field.
Payments
Options to pay an MTI issued by the City of Maple Ridge are as follows:
in person with cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or debit card at the Bylaw, Licensing & Community Safety Department or at the Property Tax counter
over the phone with a Visa, MasterCard or American Express at 604-467-7305 (press 2 for ticket payments)
Dispute & Court process
After the dispute has been received, a Screening Officer reviews the details provided by the disputant and the issuing Officer.
The Screening Officer will contact the disputant to obtain any further information and communicate whether the Ticket stands or will be waived.
If the MTI is waived, no further action is required by the disputant.
If the MTI is not waived, the disputant will be required to make payment or confirm that they wish to proceed to Provincial court.
Once a Provincial court hearing had been scheduled, the hearing can only be cancelled if the MTI is paid prior to the hearing date.
In Person is the only option for a dispute hearing in Provincial court. If the disputant does not attend the hearing, the alleged offender will automatically be found guilty (deemed convicted) and the Ticket must be paid in full immediately.
Once a Provincial court date has been scheduled the disputant will receive an adjudication package via mail prior to the hearing date.
Court Hearing process
At the Provincial court hearing, evidence is presented and the Judge or JP will make a ruling on the Ticket. The Judge or JP may not reduce the penalty.
If the Judge or JP upholds the MTI, the non-discounted Ticket must be paid in full.
If the Judge or JP dismisses the Ticket, the MTI is cancelled and no penalties are assessed.
Bylaw Notice & Tickets FAQs
Adjudication simplifies the dispute process and allows for minor violations to be removed from the Provincial court system; therefore, more cost effective and efficient. It is more convenient since personal attendance at adjudication is not mandatory and reduces the ticket dispute time.
Payment can be made online as long as you have the Notice or ticket number and one of the following forms of payment; MasterCard, Visa or certain Debit cards (TD Canada Trust, Bank of Montreal, Scotiabank and RBC Royal Bank). Payment may also be made by calling the Licences & Bylaws Department at 604-467-7305 (press 2 for ticket payments) we accept Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Payments can also be made in person at 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC via cash, debit card, cheque, Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. Or you can mail us a cheque (made payable to the City of Maple Ridge) to the above address, please include either a copy of the ticket or be sure to clearly identify the ticket # on the cheque.
A Bylaw Notice and Municipal Ticket (MTI) can be paid online as long as you have the Notice or ticket number and one of the following forms of payment; MasterCard, Visa or certain Debit cards (TD Canada Trust, Bank of Montreal, Scotiabank and RBC Royal Bank).
Disputes must be in writing and be submitted within fourteen (14) days of the Notice or ticket issue date. A dispute form may be submitted or submit a letter to the Bylaw, Licensing & Community Safety Department, including the Notice or ticket number, the reason for disputing and disputant's contact information (name, address, phone number, email address).
The adjudicator will hear from both the disputant and the Local Government. The adjudicator reviews the evidence submitted by both parties and makes a decision based on the facts of the case. The adjudicator can only make a determination on whether the offence occurred or not. The adjudicator does not have the jurisdiction to cancel the bylaw contravention notice due to personal circumstances, nor can they reduce the fine amount.
If the disputant is unable to attend the hearing on the date and time specified, please contact the Bylaw, Licensing & Community Safety Department at 604-467-7305 fourteen (14) days prior to your hearing date. Failure to attend the hearing will result in a guilty verdict and a $25.00 administration fee added to the penalty amount.
No. Once the Bylaw Notice or Ticket has been paid it cannot be disputed.
An adjudication hearing allows the local government to hear bylaw violation disputes locally rather than through the Provincial Court System. Under the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act, the Attorney General appoints private adjudicators to hear from both the disputant and the local government and decide if the offence took place. Adjudication hearings are open to the public.
If the disputant does not appear for the scheduled hearing, the Bylaw Notice is upheld.
No. If the disputant cannot appear in person, prior to the scheduled hearing date they may submit a written submission or arrange for a conference call.
No. The decision of the adjudicator is final.
No. The adjudicator has no authority to change the penalty amount. The adjudicator can only determine if the offence occurred or did not occur.
Unpaid Bylaw Notices and Municipal Tickets are sent to a collection agency or to a legal firm for recovery the penalty. In addition, the City may take the alleged offender to a Payment Hearing in Provincial court to recover the debt owed to the City.
