OTA has completed its comments to the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) regarding a proposal that calls for the potential introduction of an online administrative monetary penalty system (AMPS) to replace certain aspects of the existing court system that deals with traffic related Provincial Offences and Municipal infractions.
As OTA recently explained following a consultative meeting with motor carriers and legal experts, the idea could seriously hinder carriers’ ability to dispute Municipal or Highway Traffic Act offences.
In its official comments to MAG, OTA said that based on how existing AMPS function in other sectors, the carrier community would not support any penalties – other than in very specific circumstances like certain parking tickets – moving to an AMPS system.
OTA also pointed out that movement to an AMPS system is an affront to the fundamental principles of natural justice and the right to be presumed innocent before proven guilty. It could also potentially lead to reduced accountability of the enforcement community, among other serious concerns.
Download this .pdf for OTA’s complete comments submission to MAG: OTA Letter — Fundamentals of a Justice System for the Trucking Industry_public
Contact Geoffrey.Wood@ontruck.org with any questions on this issue.