York Region speeders will no longer have their day in court

Speeders will no longer be able to go to court to fight speeding tickets as York Region joins other municipalities in using an administrative monetary penalty system.

Regional council passed an associated bylaw Sept. 19 that will see the system changed for speeding drivers caught by automated speed enforcement and red light cameras. The system already in place in Newmarket and elsewhere uses a hearing officer for appeals, as opposed to using the court system that drivers can currently use to appeal speeding tickets on regional roads.

“Regional council considers it desirable and necessary to provide for a system of administrative penalties and administrative fees for designated provisions to promote compliance,” the bylaw said.

An external review recommended the move in 2023, citing court backlogs. That review also noted with the region planning to expand automated speed enforcement, an AMPS system would be a more efficient process.

Under the current system, someone who gets a speeding ticket on a York Region road can either pay the fine or request to attend court. That court request could lead to either a trial on a not-guilty plea or a longer time to pay on a guilty plea.

Under the AMPS system, appeals are instead done through a review by a hearing officer appointed by the region. The decision by such an officer is final, with the bylaw specifying that it is not subject to review by any court.

AMPS already exists for many Town of Newmarket fines, including speeding. The system has also been expanded in other municipalities in the region this year, with Whitchurch-Stouffville launching it May 8.

“AMPS offers numerous advantages, streamlining how we handle infractions, giving our staff more flexibility in penalty enforcement, and improving resident satisfaction," Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt said in a news release. "The introduction of AMPS bypasses the need for court involvement, which should lead to cost reductions and expedited resolutions."

York Region is expanding its speed camera system. The municipality is adding 60 more cameras throughout the region, between 2024 and 2026, with 20 more coming online by the end of this year.