As any municipality considering an Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program quickly learns, the administration side of it can be daunting.
Court systems in most jurisdictions remain backlogged from Covid days. Certificates are often input manually, and the introduction of any new traffic or speed program only adds to the congestion. What’s more, alleged offenders are often forced to take time off from work to challenge an offence — sometimes in another city.
Global Traffic Group is excited to introduce our groundbreaking Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) solution, designed to revolutionize how traffic infractions are handled in Ontario.
“The big problem is that the courts are clogged and the time between tickets being issued and cases being heard is too long,” says John Creelman, the mayor of Mono, Ontario, and a former senior Justice of the Peace who oversaw the transition of parking offences from the court system to AMPS. “An AMPS would reduce this – it’s highly desirable to stream cases away from courts.”
AMPS with ASE is a Global Traffic Group exclusive solution that combines ticketing, disputes and payments, and operates outside the court system, increasing efficiency and convenience while reducing costs
With AMPS, municipalities of any size can simplify the entire process of issuing penalties for various traffic violations, streamlining operations without compromising accuracy or efficiency.
One of the key advantages of implementing AMPS with ASE is its cost-effectiveness. Instead of hiring additional law enforcement officers or setting up physical infrastructure for traffic calming, communities can leverage Global’s turn-key solutions with no initial investment. This means more resources can be allocated towards other community services while achieving safer roads. AMPS staff can even job-share, working for more than one municipality, so labour costs aren’t prohibitive.
Moreover, AMPS offers flexibility tailored specifically to the municipality’s unique needs and requirements. Global’s system allows customization options based on local regulations and conditions so that administrators have full control over applicable fines and penalties according to their jurisdiction’s guidelines. Through Global’s AMPS with ASE pairing, a city, town or township can achieve transformational change in safety standards on local roadways, and highly streamlined administration. Safer roads not only protect residents but also enhance public perception and foster economic growth by attracting businesses and visitors.
AMPS simplifies life for recipients of infraction tickets. Accused individuals have the option to contest their ticket through a 30-minute online or phone hearing, all from the comfort of their home or workplace. This eliminates the need to sacrifice half a day’s work and undertake a journey to a courthouse, often situated in a different city. Instead, they can conveniently select their preferred hearing time and date from an online calendar, giving them control over when and where their case is heard, as opposed to the court imposing those details. Participating in a private virtual hearing with a municipal employee is decidedly less nerve-wracking and daunting than facing a public courtroom scenario, as one might easily envision.
“It’s quite a breakthrough,” says Mono’s Mayor Creelman, a strong advocate of both ASE and processing speeding violations to AMPS. “A lot of municipalities have held back on AMPS as they haven’t been able to organize how payments are collected.”
Global developed its version of AMPS – an innovative solution that aims to simplify and streamline this entire process — to benefit municipalities, residents and drivers. Global’s AMPS system bypasses the traditional court system entirely, providing a faster resolution for those who have received traffic fines. No longer will alleged offenders need to worry about taking time off work or dealing with extensive paperwork just to address an infraction.
But what else sets Global’s AMPS apart?
Firstly, Global’s proprietary technology allows for seamless integration across various departments involved in handling traffic and speed infractions. This means more efficient communication between law enforcement agencies, municipalities and other stakeholders involved in administering penalties.
Secondly, with Global’s state-of-the-art data management systems and tools, information regarding each case is securely stored in Canada and easily accessible by authorized personnel. This eliminates any chance of physical files being misplaced or delayed during transfer between various parties.
Thirdly, AMPS meshes seamlessly with Global’s ASE program, soon to be underway in Ontario through Global’s partnership with Essa Township.
“Essa Council and staff are pleased to be rolling out our automated speed enforcement program,” says Essa mayor Sandie MacDonald. “This program will be instrumental in having drivers abide by the posted speed limits to greatly help with safety and life-saving measures.”
Finally – and perhaps most importantly – using AMPS significantly reduces backlog issues often faced by courts when dealing with numerous cases simultaneously. By speeding up the process from ticket issuance through payment verification or dispute resolution stages, both individuals facing charges and communities benefit from enhanced efficiency.
Global’s new combination of ASE and AMPS is more than new and unique. We believe it will transform the way automated safety enforcement and speed enforcement programs are run, empowering communities to attain loftier safety goals — and achieve far greater positive impact with the revenue along the way.
