Hastings County
Provincial Offences
Hastings County preserves the integrity of the Ontario Court of Justice and provides fair service to all.
On June 19th, 2000, the Corporation of the County of Hastings accepted the transfer and responsibility of administrative duties from the Province of Ontario, Ministry of the Attorney General. This included Part I prosecution of the Provincial Offences Act. This transfer was part of the Province’s strategy to realign provincial and municipal roles in the delivery of public services. An additional transfer of service took place on January 4, 2022, when the Corporation of the County of Hastings accepted the responsibility of prosecution of Part III matters of the Provincial Offences Act.
The Provincial Offences Act (POA) is a procedural law for administering and prosecuting provincial offences, including offences created under municipal by-law and minor federal offences designated as contraventions. The POA provisions govern all aspects, from serving notices to a defendant to conducting trials. Provincial offences are non-criminal charges, primarily issued by the police, and include but are not limited to offences found in the following Acts:
- Highway Traffic Act: offences such as speeding, careless driving, failure to wear a seatbelt assembly
- Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act: offences such as failing to surrender an insurance card or possessing an invalid insurance card
- Liquor Licence Act: offences such as being intoxicated in a public space, selling alcohol to a minor
- Trespass to Property Act: offences such as entering premises when entry is prohibited, failing to leave premises as directed to do so
The Justice of the Peace is responsible for the proceedings of provincial offences matters and the conduct of these proceedings before the Ontario Court of Justice. The Provincial Offences office is responsible for providing administrative services, court support, prosecution of offences found in Part I and Part III of the Provincial Offences Act, enforcement, and collections.
Access to
Courts Administration
If you have moved since your last court appearance, please email here to provide your email, phone number, and current mailing address so that you do not miss important information.
Parking Tickets: The Provincial Offences Court does not accept payment for City of Belleville parking fines dated after January 1, 1994. Parking tickets dated after that date are paid at Belleville City Hall located at 169 Front Street, Belleville. If you have any questions about a City of Belleville parking ticket, please call 613-967-3200.
The Provincial Offences Court does accept payment for parking fines for the City of Quinte West after 75 days from the date of offence. If your parking ticket has resulted in a plate denial, then you must make your payment at the Service Ontario located at Century Place, 199 Front Street, Belleville.
For early resolution matters scheduled before the court, please follow the instructions on your court notice.
Services
If you receive a summons, you or your agent or counsel must appear in court on the date and time specified. Should you not appear, a trial date may be scheduled to proceed in your absence or a warrant may be issued for your arrest. If you are convicted, you could be sentenced to jail depending on the offence. Court costs and the victim fine surcharge will apply. Should you appear in court, a trial may proceed, or you or the prosecutor may ask the court to adjourn your case to a future date. The court may grant or refuse such a request.
- Guide for Defendants in Provincial Offences Cases (Click here for the French version): general information about the court process for provincial offences cases
- Early Resolution: information about processes inside and outside of the courtroom, how to reschedule an Early Resolution appointment, and the possible conviction should you fail to attend your meetings with the prosecutor
- Guide to Appeals in Provincial Offences Cases: general information about the court process for appeals under the Provincial Offences Act. Note that it does not cover every circumstance that might arise in your case
- Record Suspension for Possession of Cannabis: The Parole Board of Canada has established a streamlined application, with no application fee or wait time, for people with criminal records for simple possession of cannabis. This guide is a step-by-step instruction manual and includes the necessary application forms
- Online Payments: With a credit card through our online payment portal. This service applies only to tickets issued within the County of Hastings court jurisdiction.
- By Interac E-Transfer: Hastings County Provincial Offences has expanded its payment options to include e-transfers in an effort to reduce the need for you to attend in-person at the court office. Please note that this service only applies to tickets issued within the County of Hastings Court jurisdiction. To exercise this payment option for a recently issued ticket, select Option 1 - Plea of Guilty: Voluntary. Out-of-court payment of the fine must be made within 15 days of the service date, and you are required to pay the total payable indicated on the reverse of your offense notice. If a conviction has been registered against you, you are to pay the total payable within the time allowed by the Justice of the Peace. The total payable can be obtained from your Notice of Fine and Due Date or you may visit www.ontario.ca/ticketsandfines to obtain the total amount due.
- Instructions for E-Transfer: It is necessary to create a contact prior to sending payment. The contact name should be listed as Hastings County POA with the following email: e-transferpoa@hastingscounty.com.
When e-transferring funds, the following details must be included in your e-transfer payment message field:- The 8-digit ticket number and ICON code
- The total payable for your fine
- Your full name and date of birth in yyyy/mm/dd format
- Your email address and phone number
- As the sender, you will receive an automatic e-transfer withdrawal notification. This will be your payment receipt. It is recommended you keep record of your payment.
- Failure to include the above details in your e-transfer message field may result in a declined payment or a delay in payment processing. Should the fine go past due or into default, an administrative fee will be added and steps will be taken to enforce your defaulted fine. For example, information may be provided to a consumer-reporting agency and, for certain offences including speeding, your driver’s licence may be suspended.
- Processing time may take up to 3 days. We ask that you monitor your email and ensure your fine is paid in advance of the due date.
- Telephone: Dial 613-966-0331 and use your Visa or Mastercard credit card to make your payment. A receipt will not be issued for this payment method. An authorization number will be verbally provided to confirm your payment.
- Mail: Send a cheque or money order, Visa or Mastercard number to the address indicated on the payment notice. Please include the fine number when mailing payment. It is your responsibility to ensure payment is received prior to the fine due date.
- In-Person: Located at the Provincial Offences office, 235 Pinnacle Street, 3rd Floor, Room 304, Belleville, Ontario K8N 3A9, or at any other Provincial Offences office in Ontario. Payments can be accepted by debit card, cash, Visa, Mastercard, cheque, or money order.
Resources
To view the most recent Chief Justice’s orders, the revised Notice to Counsel, Paralegals, and the Public regarding Provincial Offences Act Matters in the Ontario Court of Justice, and the latest announcement regarding Provincial Offences Act Proceedings in the Ontario Court of Justice, please visit the links below:
