A defendant must choose one of the three options on the back of the Part 1 offence notice within 30 days of the offence date. If a defendant does not choose an option within 30 days, a conviction will be registered and additional costs applied.
Option 1: Guilty Plea - Voluntary Payment
By choosing this option, you are admitting guilt to the offence and must pay the Total Payable amount indicated on your ticket. Payments can be made online, by mail, or in person at any Provincial Offences office in Ontario.
Option 2: Early Resolution Meeting with Municipal Prosecutor
As of January 2023, Option 2 to Plead Guilty with an Explanation has been replaced with the Early Resolution Option. You now have the choice to schedule a meeting with the Municipal Prosecutor to discuss your charge. The purpose of the meeting it to address:
- the possibility of pleading to a lesser offence
- discover the prosecutor's position on the charge
- obtain disclosure
- amount and time to pay
To request a meeting, submit your green ticket with Option 2 checked off, by mail or in person to the Court Services department, or by going to Ontario.ca/ticketsandfines within 30 days of the offence or service date.
Once the request is received, the Court Services department will send you a notice to the address on the ticket, or as indicated on the request by the defendant. The notice will contain the time, date, location, and contact method of the meeting. If your address changes, please contact staff so you can be properly notified.
Outcomes of the meeting:
If a resolution does not occur after the meeting, you still have your right to a trial. You will be mailed a Notice of Trial with a future court date.
If a resolution is reached, you must attend court so the resolution can be endorsed before a Justice of the Peace.
Option 3: Trial Option - Not Guilty Plea
By selecting Option 3, a defendant is pleading not guilty to the offence and is requesting a trial. Sign the back of the offence notice (ticket) under Option 3 and mail it or drop it off to the Court Services Department. The defendant will receive a Notice of Trial in the mail detailing the court date and time and how to order disclosure. Please note that you cannot have a resolution meeting with the prosecutor if you choose this option. A resolution meeting is only held if Option 2 is selected.