- How can I contest a ticket?
- How can I obtain a Drivers Record (Abstract)?
- What is a Notice of Conviction?
- What is PVFS? – Provincial Victim Fine Surcharge
- What is LPP? – Late Payment Penalty
- What is a Final Notice of Overdue Fines?
- I received a Statement of Verification from the Sheriff’s Office. What is this?
- I need to renew a vehicle registration/renew driver’s license but have outstanding fines greater than $400. What are my options?
- I need to renew a vehicle registration/renew driver’s license but have outstanding fines less than $400. What are my options?
- I have received a Contraventions Ticket. What do I do?
1. How can I contest a ticket?
Contact the Provincial Court in the jurisdiction in which the ticket was issued so a court date can be set. Court dates should be set up prior to the default date that is noted on the ticket otherwise a default conviction will be entered and the ticket will have to be appealed.
2. How can I obtain a Drivers Record (Abstract)?
Fines Administration can only provide a list of current outstanding fines and/or tickets – a complete driver record can be obtained from any Motor Registration Division location.
3. What is a Notice of Conviction?
This notice advises that you have been convicted of an offence, as well as the amount of the fine levied. Full payment of the fine is required by the date noted (usually 5-6 weeks from the date of notice) or a late fee will be applied. A driver’s license cannot be issued or renewed if there are unpaid fines. A driver’s license or vehicle registration can be cancelled or suspended if fines remain unpaid. Civil action may also be taken such as wage attachments, bank account garnishments, or property seizure. Instructions regarding payment options are provided in addition to details for appealing the conviction.
4. What is PVFS? – Provincial Victim Fine Surcharge
Effective September 1, 2016, if you have pleaded guilty to or have been found guilty of an offence under an Act of the province, except a parking offence or an offence contrary to a municipal by-law or regulations, you shall pay a Provincial Victim Fine Surcharge of 30% of the fine, in addition to the fine, and any payment shall be applied first to this surcharge.
5. What is LPP? – Late Payment Penalty
This is assessed on certain fines that are not paid in full 60 days after conviction.
- in the case of a fine which is $50 or less than $50, $6;
- in the case of a fine which is greater than $50 and less than or equal to $100, $12;
- in the case of a fine which is greater than $100, $12 plus an additional late payment penalty of $12 for each increment of a $100 fine or part of a $100 up to a maximum late payment penalty of $120.
6. What is a Final Notice of Overdue Fines?
This notice advises that you have an unpaid balance that is past due. The amounts may relate to a court fine, traffic fine, victim fine surcharge and/or a late payment penalty. This notice gives a 60 day payment deadline and advises failing to pay will result in the balance being registered as a Judgment in Supreme Court. This could result in civil action such as wage attachments, bank account garnishments, or property seizure being commenced. Your credit rating may be negatively affected. Contact Fines Administration at your earliest convenience to arrange payment of the outstanding balance.
7. I received a Statement of Verification from the Sheriff’s Office. What is this?
This statement advises that a judgment has been registered against you in Supreme Court for past due fines and provides details of the judgment including the registration number, court number and balance registered. This registration automatically places a lien, on all your assets in the province. In other words, if you try to sell any property and the judgment has not been satisfied, the purchaser buys the property subject to the judgment. This applies to all property, whether acquired before or after the judgment is registered. This registration also gives Fines Administration several enforcement options:
- Installment orders
- Garnish: employment income, other income or obligation
- Garnish Deposit (Bank) Account(s)
- Seizure of assets
- Sale of defendant’s land
Once a judgment has been registered with Supreme Court, it is also reported to credit bureaus (Equifax and Trans Union) and may affect your ability to obtain future credit.
Visit the Sheriff’s Office for additional details.
8. I need to renew a vehicle registration/renew driver’s license but have outstanding fines greater than $400. What are my options?
Motor Registration Division will not renew vehicle registrations or renew driver’s licenses unless you pay all outstanding fines in full or get a clearance letter from Fines Administration advising that a payment agreement is in place. If you are unable to pay the outstanding balance you may apply for a formal payment arrangement via the Collections Unit of Fines Administration (709-729-4156). You will be required to verify your financial circumstances by completing a Financial Statement and provide proof of current income along with tax assessment forms for the previous 2 years. A Financial Collections Officer will review the financial information, and if you are deemed eligible, will determine the down payment and monthly payments required. Once conditions of the payment arrangement are met, a clearance letter will be issued to Motor Registration Division and you will have to follow their requirements for vehicle registration or driver’s license renewal.
9. I need to renew a vehicle registration/renew driver’s license but have outstanding fines less than $400. What are my options?
Motor Registration Division will not renew vehicle registrations or renew driver’s licenses unless you pay all outstanding fines in full or get a clearance letter from Fines Administration advising that a payment agreement is in place. If fines total less than $400, Fines Administration will not set up a formal payment arrangement but you can make installments to pay your fines via Fines Administration or any Provincial Court (Motor Registration Division will only accept the full balance – not installments). Once that full balance has been paid, you can go to Motor Registration Division to follow their requirements for vehicle registration or driver license renewal.
10. I have received a Contraventions Ticket. What do I do?
If you have received a Contraventions Ticket you can pay the fine (see Payment Options on the previous page). If you wish to contest the ticket, sign the Notice of Intention to Appear in Court to enter a plea and return it to the Court before the Default Conviction date so as to be advised of an appearance OR indicate a plea of not guilty on the back of your ticket and return it to the Court before the default conviction date. More information on contraventions tickets is available on the Provincial Court website – http://www.court.nl.ca/provincial/index.html If you have questions about your ticket, you can call our toll free number 1-833-765-5366 to receive service in French or English. You can also consult the document Federal Contraventions – Your Rights and Duties Under the Law Newfoundland and Labrador for more information.
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