How To Dispute A Parking Ticket In Montreal

Getting a parking ticket can be annoying. If you have received a parking ticket in Montreal, you are not alone. Thousands of parking tickets are issued in Montreal each year. Many of them can be disputed. You might believe that your parking ticket was issued in error or you have a valid reason for disputing it. Well, you can get it discharged or reduced.

How to dispute a parking ticket in Montreal? This article will walk you through the process of disputing a parking ticket in Montreal. We will cover everything you need to know about contesting a parking ticket in Montreal.

What Is A Statement Of Offense

The legal term for a “ticket” is “statement of offense”. The statement of offense contains the following information:

• The name and title of the person handing out the ticket.
• Your name and address.
• A brief description of how you broke the law.
• The fact that you must plead guilty or not guilty.

What Happens If You Don’t Pay A Parking Ticket In Montreal

Receive a parking ticket in Montreal? You need to pay it on time to avoid additional consequences.

Here are the consequences of not paying a parking ticket in Montreal:

• There can be additional fines.
• The amount of your ticket can be increased.
• Your car can be towed if you have an unpaid parking ticket.
• A warrant can be issued for your arrest.
• You can go to jail for 2 years if you don’t pay a parking ticket.
• There can be legal proceedings against you.
• This can also damage your credit ratings.

If you can’t pay all at once, you can also pay it in installments.

What Are The Ways To Dispute A Parking Ticket In Montreal

There are 4 ways to dispute a parking ticket in Montreal.

In-person

You can do it at a municipal court.

By mail

You can also provide proof regarding the offense of which you have been indicted.

By email

You can attach proof regarding the offense of which you have been indicted.

Online

You need to have a driver’s license or registration issued by the SAAQ (Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec). The Ville de Montréal offers an online service to pay a parking ticket. 

What Are The Possible Results Of Disputing A Parking Ticket In Montreal

Here are the possible results of disputing a parking ticket in Montreal:

• If the ticket was issued correctly it will be enforced.
• If the ticket was issued in error it can be waived.
• The ticket may be reduced if it is a minor violation. Or if you have a good reason for disputing the ticket.
• The ticket is sustained if your dispute is not resolved. You will have to justify yourself to a judge. The judge’s decision will be final.

Contest a Parking Ticket in Montreal by Following The Process

You can contest a parking ticket in Montreal by following this parking ticket dispute process.

• You need to fill out the response form attached to the statement of offense. You can also separate it from the statement of offense. And fill out all the fields in the section named “Not-guilty plea”.
• Explain thoroughly and clearly why you believe the ticket was issued in error.
• If you have proof that can support your claim, you need to provide that too.
• If you are sending your parking ticket dispute letter by mail or email, send it to the Bureau des infractions et amendes. You can find the address and email on the ticket.
• Your appeal will be then reviewed. The ticket will either be enforced or waived.
• If your dispute is not resolved, you will have to explain yourself to a judge.

Who Can Contest

• Only the defendants or their lawyer can enter a not-guilty plea.
• For parking violations, only the owner or long-term lessee of the vehicle can enter a plea.
• A statement of offense can also be issued to a vehicle that is registered to a legal entity. In this case, a director or a manager can enter a not-guilty plea.

Deadline For Disputing A Parking Ticket In Montreal

According to the Ville de Montréal, here’s the parking ticket dispute timeline:

• After you receive your parking ticket, you can submit your plea within 30 days.
• If you fail to submit within 30 days of receiving the ticket, you will have to visit a municipal court.

Keep Reading: How To Pay 407 Bill in Canada?

How To Write A Parking Ticket Dispute Letter In Montreal

What to include in a parking ticket dispute letter? Follow these steps to write a parking ticket contest letter:

• Address the letter to the Bureau des infractions et amendes.
• Mention your name and address.
• Give the ticket number.
• Write the date when you received the ticket.
• Mention clearly that you are contesting the ticket and that you are pleading not guilty.
• Provide a clear and thorough explanation of why you believe the ticket was issued in error.
• If you have proof that can support your claim, you need to provide that too. Like photos or witness statements.

You can send the letter by mail or e-mail.

Parking Ticket Dispute Hearing

If your dispute is not resolved, you will have to justify yourself to a judge. You will receive a notice of hearing. This notice will have the date, time, and place of the hearing mentioned on it.

If you can’t make it on the mentioned date, you can contact the court and ask for a different hearing date. To contest a parking ticket, you must plead not guilty.

Can You Request A Hearing When Contesting A Parking Ticket In Montreal

Yes! If you’re not satisfied with the decision made by the city, you can request a hearing too.

You will be given an opportunity to be heard and provide proof if you have any.

The judge’s decision will be final.

What Should I Bring To The Hearing

If you have something that can support your claim, bring it to the hearing. You can bring any of the following to support your claim:

• Photos of your car and the location of the scene of the incident.
• Other relevant photos. Like signs, markings on the road, or parking meters.
• Signed witness statements. Like a passenger who can confirm that you did not park unlawfully.
• If your vehicle was disabled and you couldn’t move it, bring a receipt for vehicle repairs.

Why I Should Contest A Parking Ticket in Montreal

There are many reasons to contest a parking ticket in Montreal. Like:

• You believe that the ticket was issued by mistake.
• You believe that the ticket was issued unfairly.
• The parking meter was not working.
• There was no parking sign or it was not clear.
• The parking spot was not visible.
• You have proof that you didn’t violate parking rules.

Tips For Contesting A Parking Ticket In Montreal

Here are some useful tips to contest a parking ticket in Montreal:

Read It Carefully And Look For Errors

If you get a parking ticket, read it carefully. The following errors can make it legally invalid:

• The model of the vehicle is mentioned wrong.
• The date and time of the suspected violation is not correct.
• The issuing officer failed to sign their name on the ticket.

Take Photos Of The Scene Of The Incident

Submitting a piece of photographic evidence with your appeal can help a lot.

• A photo can show how far your vehicle was parked.
• Make sure to capture the broken meter.
• Try to take the photos with a time stamp.

Identify The Law You Broke And Try To Find Loopholes

The law you broke will be mentioned in the statement of offense. Try to find some handy loopholes in that law.

Follow The Instructions On The Ticket To Make An Appeal

You must deal with the ticket quickly. The window for appeals is written on the ticket. Make the appeal within the mentioned time to avoid any fines.

Write Your Appeal Properly

While writing your appeal, make sure of the following:

• Be brief and clear.
• Use a respectful and professional tone.
• Add the date and time of the ticket.
• Mention the law quoted on the ticket.
• Provide valid reasons why your ticket should be waived.

What To Do In A Hearing

If you’re required to appear at a hearing, ensure the following:

• Arrive on time.
• Dress neatly.
• Bring two copies of every document you sent in for your appeal.
• Be brief and respectful when asked to tell your story.
• Answer all the questions respectfully.

What Never To Say In A Hearing

Here are some things that you should never say when contesting a ticket:

• “I didn’t know the rules.”
• “I was about to move my car.”
• “I can’t pay for this ticket.”
• “I’ve been parking like this for years.”
• “The parking officer said it was okay to park there.”

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of success when disputing a parking ticket.

Bottom Line

Now you know how to dispute a parking ticket in Montreal. By following this article, you can increase your chances of success. However, if you pay your ticket, you automatically plead guilty.

You can also contact the Montreal Parking Authority and ask for help with the dispute process.

Watch this video:

Living in Toronto, worried about the parking ticket, read it : How To Dispute Parking Ticket in Toronto