Frequently Asked Questions

My driver's license is suspended for non-payment of fines. How do I reinstate my license?

To reinstate your license if it has been suspended for unpaid fines, you must pay your fine in full along with a reinstatement fee at Service Ontario. Both can be paid together at Service Ontario. Keep in mind that if the fines are paid at Court Services first, it takes 3 business days to process with Service Ontario.

If the fine is older than 10 years, you must pay the fine first at Court Services.

I just got a parking ticket. Where do I pay it?

If your parking ticket is within 30 days of the offence date, you must pay it at City Hall which is located at 255 Christina Street N., Sarnia, ON. Their contact information is on the back of the ticket.

The Court Services Department only receives parking tickets if they are 45 days overdue and will enforce it at that time.

Do I need a lawyer or a paralegal if I plead 'not guilty' and select Option 3 on the back of my ticket?

It is completely your decision as to whether you hire a lawyer or a paralegal.

I can't make it to my court date. Can I have someone represent me on my behalf?

Yes. So long as you provide signed, written consent, you may have a family member or friend represent you in court.

My driver's license is suspended for non-payment of fine(s). I can't pay my fine(s) in full in addition to the reinstatement fee. What do I do?

If you can't pay your fine(s) in full along with the reinstatement fee, you can file an application for an Extension of Time to Pay. If your application is granted by the Justice of the Peace, you can pay your reinstatement fee after 3-5 business days and make monthly payments towards your fines. Should you miss too many monthly payments in a row, your payment plan can be revoked and your driver's license and be suspended again.

How can I find out how many demerit points are associated with a charge?

Please see the Ministry of Transportation's webpage on Demerit Points.

What does it mean when I receive a Part I ticket with a court date at the bottom and no fine amount indicated?

If there is a court date at the bottom of your Part I ticket it means that you must appear in court on the date and time specified. If you do not attend your court date, a trial will commence without your presence and a conviction registered.

Why are there two fine amounts on my ticket? Which one do I pay?

The Set Fine is the regulated amount for the offence. The Total Payable amount includes a Victim Fine Surcharge. This surcharge is imposed by the Provincial government and given to every fine under the Provincial Offences Act. Proceeds from the surcharge go towards maintaining services to victims of crime. The fine amount you pay is the Total Payable.

Where can I find more information on the different types of tickets?

Please visit our Ticket Information and Resources page for detailed information.