Provincial Offences Court

The City of Brantford’s Court Services provides administrative and prosecutorial services for Provincial Offences Act matters before the Ontario Court of Justice for the City of Brantford, Brant County and Six Nations.

The Provincial Offences Act (POA) sets out procedures for the administration and prosecution of offences under provincial statutes, provincial regulations and municipal by-laws. Services include the processing of charges under Provincial statues, processing of fine payments, scheduling of Provincial Offences trials and Early Resolution meetings, etc.

There are three different types of Provincial Offence Notices:

  • Part I: an offence notice (ticket) or summons that is issued to an individual
  • Part II: a parking infraction notice
  • Part III: a summons to appear in court on a specified date

Check the status of your traffic tickets and other provincial offences:

POA Case Lookup (Ontario.ca)

Payments

If you do not wish to dispute the charge and you pay the total payable shown on the ticket. A Conviction will register against you, and any demerit points that are attached to the charge will also be imposed. You must pay the total payable and not the set fine amount shown on your ticket.
Payment options include Cash, Debit, Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard, MasterCard Debit, and Money Order, Cheque, or Certified Cheque made payable to the City of Brantford

Online

www.payfines.ca

  • Debit, Visa Debit and MasterCard Debit cannot be used through this site.
  • There is a $2.50 non-refundable convenience fee added to online payments.
  • It can take up to three business days to process your payment.

Mail

Send your payment to:

City of Brantford
Provincial Offences Court Office
102 Wellington Street P.O. Box 760
Brantford, Ontario, N3T 2M3

  • You can pay by cheque, money order Visa or MasterCard when paying by mail.
  • You must include your ticket number with your payment.
  • Cheques can be made payable to the City of Brantford. We do not accept Post-dated cheques.
  • Do not send cash in the mail.

In Person

City of Brantford
Provincial Offences Court Office
102 Wellington Street,
Brantford, Ontario, N3T 2M3
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Phone

  • Pay by phone using Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard, MasterCard Debit, or Pre-paid credit cards.
  • Contact our office at (519) 751-9100 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
Early Resolution

Early Resolution Meetings have the option to appear by audio, video or in-person.

Guilty Pleas have the option to appear in-person or virtually. If you appear virtually it is recommended that you appear by video.

You can request an early resolution meeting with the prosecutor discuss the charge either online, by email or in person.

Online

Depending on your case, you may be able to request a meeting online to discuss your ticket with a prosecutor before going to trial.

POA Online Services

Request an early resolution meeting

  1. Enter the information on the ticket or notice
  2. Include all information, including your email address and phone number
  3. Submit your request

You will be sent a notice in the mail regarding the date, time and location of your early resolution meeting.

Email

Complete option 2 on the ticket and email it to brantfordpoa@brantford.ca

You will be sent a notice in the mail regarding the date, time and location of your early resolution meeting.

Mail or In Person

  1. Check off the Request for Meeting box on the back of the offence notice.
  2. Record any change in your address information at the bottom on the back of the offence notice.
  3. If you require an interpreter for your meeting, indicate the language required on the back of the offence notice.
  4. Mail or bring your offence notice to:
    Provincial Offences Office for the City of Brantford
    102 Wellington Street
    Brantford, ON N3T 2M3
  5. You will be sent a notice in the mail regarding the date, time and location of your early resolution meeting.

If you fail to attend the Early Resolution meeting, the court may enter a conviction in your absence.
Trials

If you wish to dispute the charge on your ticket, you may do so by signing Option #3 on your offence notice and deliver your ticket to our office in person, by mail, or email brantfordpoa@brantford.ca. Please indicate any changes to your name and address on the back of the ticket.

In the event you have misplaced your offence notice, you must complete a Replacement of Missing Offence Notice (Form 4) and deliver your ticket to our office in person, by mail, or email to brantfordpoa@brantford.ca.

City of Brantford
Provincial Offences Court Office
102 Wellington Street, P.O Box 760
Brantford ON, N3T 2M3

Guide for Defendants in Provincial Offences Cases

An Ontario Court of Justice Guide is available at the Ontario Courts of Justice website and by selecting the following link:

Ontario Court of Justice PDF Guide for Defendants in Provincial Offences Cases

This Guide provides defendants with general information about the court process for provincial offences cases. It does not cover every circumstance that might arise in your case.

This Guide does not provide legal advice. If you have legal questions you are urged to get legal advice from a lawyer or paralegal about your options and the possible penalties you could face.
Virtual Court

Brantford Provincial Offences Court are conducting proceedings in-person and virtually.

  • Trial matters have the option to appear in-person or virtual by video only.
  • Early Resolution meetings have the option to appear by audio, video or in-person.
  • Guilty Pleas have the option to appear in-person or virtually by audio or video. If appearing virtually it is recommended to appear by video or have the option available as it may be ordered by a Justice of the Peace.

Connection to Virtual Court Proceedings

Courtroom 1
Phone: +1-855-703-8985 (Toll Free)
Meeting ID: 980 7402 9801
Password: 025410

Judicial Pre-Trial (Courtroom 1)
Phone: +1-855-703-8985 (Toll Free)
Meeting ID: 942 9528 4196
Passcode: 402920

Virtual Court Decorum for Participants and Observers

All participants and Observers must conduct themselves for remote hearings as if they were physically in the courtroom. Please review the following Remote Court Appearance Guide.

Guide for Participants
Reopening

If you were convicted without a hearing you may, within 15 days after becoming aware of the conviction, make an application to have the conviction struck out by completing a Reopening Application.

A justice shall strike out the conviction if satisfied that, through no fault of their own, the defendant,

  1. (a) was unable to appear for a hearing; or
  2. (b) did not receive a notice or document relating to the offence.
Appeal
This Guide to Appeals provides general information about the court process for appeals under the Provincial Offences Act. It does not cover every circumstance that might arise in your case.

 
Past Due Payments

Failure to pay your fine by the due date may result in:

  • Suspension of a driver’s licence, and the imposition of a licence reinstatement fee.
  • Refusal to renew licence plate(s).
  • Additional fees and collection costs.
  • Referral of the debt to a collection agency, which can affect your credit rating.

Additional legal measures may include:

  • Bank Garnishment
  • Wage Garnishment
  • Register a lien against real property
  • Addition of the fine to you municipal tax roll
  • Writ of Seizure and Sale

You may apply for an extension of time for payment of fine.

Extension of Time to Pay Fine

If you are unable to pay your fine by the due date, you may apply for a Motion for Extension of Time to Pay Fine (Form 125-126). The Justice of the Peace will consider your previous attempts at payments, prior payments made, and proposed payment plan going forward when determining the outcome of your application. Partial payments can be made at any time.

Extensions can be emailed to brantfordpoa@brantford.ca or delivered by mail/in-person to 102 Wellington Street, Brantford, Ontario, N3T 2M3

 
Red Light Camera
What is a red light camera?
It is an automated system that detects and captures images of vehicles entering an intersection during the red signal phase of traffic signal operations.
What is a red light camera violation?
A violation occurs when a driver enters the intersection after the traffic signal has turned red.
What if a vehicle is making a left turn and the signal turns red when the vehicle is still in the intersection?
If the vehicle enters the intersection on a green or amber traffic signal, the left-turning motorist will not be ticketed for turning when the traffic signal is red.
What if a vehicle is making a permitted right turn on red? Will the motorist receive a ticket?
In accordance with the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario, if the vehicle comes to a complete stop before the stop bar prior to turning, the motorist will not be ticketed for turning right during a red light.
Do red light cameras generate revenue for the City?
The focus of the red light camera program is safety. This program is revenue neutral, meaning that the revenues would at least cover the operating and maintenance costs of the red light cameras. Since the incidence of red light running decreases after the installation of cameras, it is difficult to predict the number of red light violations. If the program does generate any revenue, it will be placed in a reserve fund to be used for other road safety initiatives in Brantford.
How do red light cameras increase road safety?
Community awareness of red light cameras reduces aggressive driving behaviour and decreases red light running. The cameras act as a deterrent because motorist change their driving behaviour in order to avoid a fine. Studies have shown that red light violation rates can decrease within a few months of camera installation and that right-angle collisions can also be significantly reduced. Improved driving behaviour can even carry over to intersections without red light cameras, creating a halo-effect.
How long does it take to receive a red light camera ticket in the mail?
The ticket should be issued within 30 days after the offence.
Does someone review the photographs before motorists are ticketed?
Yes, there are trained officers who review every picture to confirm the vehicle information and to ensure that the vehicle is in violation.
Who receives the ticket for a red light camera violation?
Red light camera tickets are issued to the registered licence plate holder. The red light camera will take a picture when a vehicle is detected turning right without coming to a complete stop.
I went through an intersection and saw a light flash so I think I got a red light camera ticket, what should I do?
You need to wait to receive notification in the mail to see if you did commit an infraction. You will receive a notice in approximately 30 days from the date of the incident.
Are there demerit points for a red light camera ticket?
There are no demerit points for a red light camera charge.
Where are the cameras located?

Camera locations were determined by collision rate data and include:

  • Blackburn Drive at Veterans Memorial Parkway
  • Wayne Gretzky Parkway at Henry Street
  • Clarence Street at Dalhousie Street
  • Clarence Street at Icomm Drive
  • Wayne Gretzky Parkway at Morton Avenue
  • Market Street at Wellington Street

 
Speed Measuring Devices

If you have been charged with speeding and the officer used a radar or laser device to obtain the speed reading, you can obtain a copy of the relevant manual for the device used by clicking on the link to the manual. The officer's notes will indicate what device the officer used.

 Frequently Asked Questions

What are the two different fine amounts on my ticket? What is a Victim Fine Surcharge?

The lesser amount is the legislated set fine for the offence in which you have been charged. The higher amount is the Total Payable, which must be paid. The total payable is inclusive of the set fine relating to the offence you have been charged, court costs and the victim fine surcharge.

Court costs are authorized by Section 60 of the Provincial Offences Act and the amount is set by regulation. These costs are a set amount to be paid by the defendant for:

  • The service of the offence notice and/or summons
  • Rending of any conviction of an offence
  • And/or other costs ordered by the Justice of the Peace

The Victim Fine Surcharge (VFS) is imposed by the provincial government and is added to every fine imposed under the Provincial Offences Act in Ontario. It is credited to a special fund to assist victims of crime.

For further information on Victim Fine Surcharge visit: www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/000161
What if I need more time to pay a Provincial Offences fine?

You can contact the Court by e-mailing brantfordpoa@brantford.ca or calling 519-751-9100.

If you are having difficulty paying your fine by the due date, visit the Provincial Offences Court Office before the due date and apply for a Motions for Extension of Time to Pay Fine. Include your ticket information, how much you have paid to date and the future date you would like it to get extended until. The Application is submitted to a Justice of the Peace for consideration. If your application is approved, you may be eligible to have your driver’s licence reinstated by the MTO/Service Ontario.

NOTE: The extension request will be reviewed in your absence. It is your responsibility to follow up with the court after two business days to see if the extension was granted or denied. You can contact the Court by e-mailing brantfordpoa@brantford.ca or calling 519-751-9100.
Can I pay my parking ticket at the Provincial Offences Office?

Parking tickets must be paid at the location indicated on the ticket.

City of Brantford parking tickets can be paid at the Municipal Parking Office at:

Municipal Parking Office
58 Dalhousie Street
Brantford, Ontario N3T 2J2
Telephone: (519) 753-2311
https://www.brantford.ca/en/transportation/parking.aspx

Newly issued County of Brant Parking tickets must be paid at:

County of Brant Parking
26 Park Avenue
Burford, ON
N0E 1A0
Phone: 519-44BRANT (519-442-7268)
Toll Free: 1-855-44BRANT (1-855-442-7268)
https://www.brant.ca/en/roads-parking-and-transit/parking-tickets.aspx

If your County of Brant parking ticket is past due, you may be able to pay it at the Brantford Provincial Offences Court located at 102 Wellington Street. Contact the County of Brant Parking office to find out.
What if I have difficulty with the English language during my trial?
If you or one of your witnesses requires an interpreter for a scheduled court date, immediately advise the court office shown on your ticket or summons. When selecting Option # 3 on your ticket, simply indicate the interpreter language required in the specified location. The court office provides interpreter services for court hearings free of charge.
What if I cannot attend my court date? What can I do?

If you are unable to attend court, you have 2 options:

  1. If you have not adjourned your court date previously, you may fill out an Adjournment of the First Trial Date form. This must be done in accordance to time restrictions and approved by the Municipal Prosecutor.

    OR

  2. If you have adjourned your trial previously, you must file a Notice of Motion to request to have your trial date re-scheduled. You must serve the prosecutor with Notice of your Motion in advance of the trial date, pursuant to legislative time restrictions. Once your motion is filed with court administration, a court date will be selected whereby you must attend and request the adjournment before a Justice of the Peace.

If you are unable to attend your court date you may have a representative attend court and address the matter on your behalf. Your representative must be over the age of 16 years and have written authorization from you to appear for the purposes of requesting an adjournment. Failure to attend may result in a conviction being registered in your absence or a warrant issued for your arrest.
What if I missed my trial date and was convicted?
  • Part 1 Tickets
    You must attend at the Provincial Offences Court within 15 days of becoming aware of your conviction and request a Reopening of your matter. You will be asked to fill out the forms and swear to an affidavit. The forms would then be forwarded to the Justice of the Peace for consideration. If granted, the conviction will be lifted from your driver’s abstract, and a new trial date scheduled. It is your responsibility to ensure the court has your current address so you receive your new trial date.
  • Part 3 Information
    If you failed to appear in court in response to your summons you may have been convicted in your absence. You may be eligible for a new trial date if leave to appeal is granted by the Appeal Court Justice.