It's tempting to think a $40 fine isn't worth fighting. But the system is designed for you to think that. In Ontario, an unpaid parking ticket doesn't just go away. It accumulates late fees, and most importantly, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) will block you from renewing your licence plate sticker (valtag) until every last dollar is paid. This is called 'plate denial.'
If you have multiple unpaid tickets, municipalities like Thunder Bay have the power to tow your vehicle, leaving you with hundreds of dollars in impound fees on top of the fines. Many cities, including Thunder Bay, now use an Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMPs) system. This moves the dispute from a formal court to an administrative screening and hearing. This system is faster and designed to collect fines, but it doesn't mean you can't win.
TicketZapper navigates this specific AMPs process on your behalf, representing you at every stage to get your ticket cancelled or reduced. This is a different battle than fighting speeding tickets thunder bay, which carry demerit points, but the financial impact of multiple parking tickets can be just as severe.
Parking Ticket Consequences
- Plate Denial: Cannot renew licence plate sticker until all fines paid
- Late Fees: Original fine increases by 25-50% with late penalties
- Vehicle Towing: Multiple unpaid tickets can lead to vehicle impoundment
- Collection Actions: Unpaid fines may be sent to collection agencies