Disputes and Adjudications
How to dispute a bylaw notice (ticket)
Submit a completed dispute form for each ticket you choose to dispute, or complete the back of each Bylaw Notice (Ticket). A dispute form must be submitted to the Township of Langley Bylaw Enforcement department within 14 days from the issuance of the Bylaw Notice (Ticket).
Dispute process
Screening stage
- Submit a dispute.
- A screening officer will review the details provided by the disputant and the issuing officer. At this point the screening officer will contact you to obtain any further information and communicate their findings resulting in:
• The Bylaw Notice is cancelled.
• The Bylaw Notice will not be cancelled. - If the screening officer cancels the Bylaw Notice no further action will be required. If the Bylaw Notice is not cancelled you will be required to make payment or to confirm that you wish to proceed to an adjudication hearing. Once you proceed to an adjudication hearing, you can only cancel your dispute by paying your Bylaw Notice (ticket) prior to the hearing. Hearing options are available in person, by phone or in writing.
- Once a hearing date has been set, you will receive an adjudication package via mail.
Adjudication stage
At the Adjudication Hearing, evidence is presented and the adjudicator decides if an offence did or did not occur.
• If an offence did occur, the Bylaw Notice must be paid in full, plus an additional $25 administrative fee.
• If there is not enough evidence to support that the offence occurred, the Bylaw Notice is cancelled.
Frequently asked questions
| Why is adjudication used? |
| Adjudication simplifies the dispute process and allows for minor violations to be removed from the Provincial Court system; therefore, it is more cost effective and efficient. It is also more convenient since attendance at the adjudication is not mandatory, and it reduces the ticket dispute time. |
| What is an adjudication hearing? |
| An adjudication allows the local government to hear Bylaw Violation disputes locally rather than through the Provincial Court system. Under the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act, the Provincial Attorney General appoints private adjudicators to hear from both the disputant and the Local Government and decide if the offence took place. Adjudication hearings are open to the public and are scheduled by the Local Government. |
| Can I dispute a bylaw notice if it is paid? |
| No – once you have paid the bylaw violation notice, you cannot dispute the ticket. |
| What happens at the adjudication hearing? |
|
The adjudicator will hear from both the disputant and the Local Government. The adjudicator reviews the evidence submitted by both parties and makes a decision based on the facts of the case. The adjudicator can only make a determination of whether the offence took place or not. The adjudicator does not have the jurisdiction to cancel the bylaw contravention notice due to personal circumstances, nor can they reduce the fine amount. If you are unable to attend the hearing on the date and time specified, please contact the Bylaw Enforcement Department at 604-532-7551 fourteen (14) days prior to your hearing date. Failure to attend your hearing will result in a guilty verdict and a $25 administration fee will be added to the fine amount. |
| What happens if I am unable to attend the hearing? |
| If you do not show up for the scheduled hearing, the notice is upheld. You may submit a written submission or arrange a conference call prior to the adjudication. |
| Do I need to appear in person for the hearing? |
| No. If you cannot appear in person, you may submit a written submission or arrange for a conference call prior to the adjudication. |
| Can I appeal the adjudicator's decision? |
| No – the decision of the adjudicator is final. |
| Can the adjudicator consider my financial decision? |
| No – the adjudicator has no authority to change the penalty amount. The adjudicator can only determine if the offence occurred. |
| What happens if I do not pay the penalty for the violation? |
| Unpaid Bylaw Notices are forwarded to a collection agency or to a legal firm to recover the penalty. |