Why is there a Victim Fine Surcharge added to my fine?
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The Provincial Offences Act requires a "Victim Fine Surcharge" be added to fines. This surcharge is forwarded directly to the Province of Ontario and goes into the Province's Victims' Justice Fund account. This is used to provide services to support victims of crime. The surcharge operates on a sliding scale, depending on the amount of the fine.
Victim Fine Surcharge Chart
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Do you have an accessibility issue?
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If you or someone you represent has a disability and needs assistance to attend Court, please contact the Brockville Court office to make arrangements. This needs to be done at least two months in advance of your Court date.
Assistance can include:
- Assistive listening devices
- Visual language interpretation such as American Sign Language (ASL)
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What happens if I ignore the ticket?
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You have 15 days from when you received the ticket to choose one of the three options. If you do not respond within 15 days, a Justice of the Peace may enter a conviction against you. If this happens additional costs will be added to the total amount owed. If the fine is not paid within the specified time frame, additional charges will be added and steps taken to enforce you to pay.
For example, if you had a speeding ticket, your driver's licence may be suspended. Should this occur, what is owed in total must be paid in full to have your licence reinstated.
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What happens if I don't pay my fine?
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If you don't pay your fine after you are convicted by the due date, it may result in one or more of the following:
- Refusal by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to issue a vehicle permit
- Driver's license suspension
- An additional administrative fee of $40.00
- Additional collection costs including interest
- Small Claims Court action
- The defaulted fine information is provided to a credit bureau
Payment plans can be arranged if you are contacted by a collections agency. If a payment plan is approved by the Justice of the Peace, it will prevent further enforcement initiatives if the payment plan is adhered to.
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What do the charges mean?
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The Consolidated laws lists all provincial acts. Look up the statute of the offence you have been charged.
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How do I find out the current status of my driving record?
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All driving record information is maintained and administered by the Ministry of Transportation. To receive your driving record abstract, visit the Ministry of Transportation website, select Drivers, Ministry Online Services, then type abstract in the search tool. A link will be provided to request the most recent owner abstract information.
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How many demerit points will I receive with a conviction?
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If you are seeking information regarding the number of demerit points that may be associated with a conviction of the offence with which you are charged, refer to the Government of Ontario's website or call 1-800-387-3445.
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Why are there two amounts on my ticket?
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One amount is the set fine and the second is the total payable. The total payable includes the set fine, court costs and the victim fine surcharge [link]. This total amount is to be paid to the Provincial Offences Court.
The set fine is ordered by the Chief Judge of the Ontario Court of Justice as the amount you must pay instead of attending court to contest the charge. Court costs are an amount you must pay for the service of the ticket and/or summons and upon conviction of an offence. The costs are authorized by Section 60 of the Provincial Offences Act and the amount is set by regulation.
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What do I do when my driver's license is suspended?
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The Provincial Offences Court may choose to suspend a driver's licence for non-payment of a fine. If this happens, you must pay the total amount outstanding at any Court office in Ontario. An enforcement fee will be added to your total.
After payment is made, go to your local Ministry of Transportation office to pay the reinstatement fee. Once this is paid (and there are no other outstanding fines or other reasons for suspension), your licence will be reinstated within 3 to 5 business days.
Some fines are eligible to be paid directly at Service Ontario and reinstated the same day. To see if your fine is eligible, contact the Provincial Court office.
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Why am I notified of my suspension after I have been suspended?
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The Ministry of the Attorney General changed its procedures several years ago, including no longer providing notice of the "pending suspension". It was determined that notice was no longer required because defendants had already been provided with notice of a pending suspension for non-payment of a fine through two methods: a ticket (indicated on the back) and a Notice of Fine and Due Date.
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Do you have a complaint about the Provincial Offences office?
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If you have a complaint concerning administration services, please contact the POA Services Coordinator in writing at the Provincial Court office.
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Do you have a complaint regarding the Justice of the Peace
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Judicial Conduct
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