Red Light Camera Program

You have 30 days to request an appeal, from the time the Penalty Order is issued. There are two stages to an appeal of your penalty order/ticket:

1. Screening – reviews to determine if it was appropriate for the Provincial Offences Officer to issue the penalty order.
2. Hearing - reviews to determine if the Screening Officer's decision was appropriate

Screening and Hearing reviews are conducted virtually, either via telephone or virtual meeting. In-person reviews are accommodated when requested.  

The Town does not provide language interpreters for Screening or Hearing Reviews. If you require the use of an interpreter, it is your responsibility to provide one. 

If you are not the registered owner of the vehicle, you must complete the Authorization to Act as an Agent form in order to act on the owner’s behalf.

Meetings may extend beyond the scheduled time. Appellants must attend their scheduled appointment on time and remain on the line until the screening/hearing commences. If you experience technical issues, please communicate with the Screening or Hearing Officer for assistance. If you are unable to connect to Teams at the start of your meeting, please call the BWG APS main line at 1-877-711-3169 as soon as possible.

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury promotes a respectful work environment and has zero tolerance for aggressive, coarse, or inappropriate language during a hearing review. A Hearing Officer reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to adjourn the hearing in the event an appellant's behavior becomes inappropriate. 

If you choose to dispute your Penalty Order you must request a review within 30 days of the service date noted on the penalty order.    

The Screening Officer will review and consider any documents you submit before making a decision. During the Screening Review, the Screening Officer may: 

• Set Aside the Penalty Order, including any administrative fees; 

• Confirm the Penalty Order, including any administrative fees; 

• Reduce the amount owing on the Penalty Order, including any administrative fees; or 

• Extend the time for paying the Penalty Order, including any administrative fees. 

At the conclusion of the Screening/Hearing Review, a Notice of Decision will be provided to the appellant.

If you choose to dispute the Screening Officer’s decision, you must request a review within 30 days of the Notice of Decision.    

The Town is not required to have the issuing Officer present at Hearing Reviews and may rely on certified evidence as set out in Ontario Regulations. No witnesses are permitted to participate in the Hearing Review.  

During the Hearing Review, the Hearing Officer may: 

• Set Aside the Penalty Order, including any administrative fees; 

• Confirm the Penalty Order, including any administrative fees; 

• Reduce the amount owing on the Penalty Order, including any administrative fees; or 

• Extend the time for paying the Penalty Order, including any administrative fees. 

In accordance with Ontario Regulations, a Hearing Officer may consider the following information:  

1. Undue Financial Hardship – recipient of government assistance such as CPP, EI, Ontario Works, or ODSP 
2. Extenuating Circumstances – circumstances assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Hearing Officer 

The Hearing Officer will issue a Notice of Decision shortly after the conclusion of the Hearing Review.  This decision includes the Hearing Officer’s reasons for confirming, varying or setting aside the Penalty Order.  The Hearing Officer’s decision is final and not subject to further appeal. 

Please bring copies of any documents that may assist as evidence, including: 

• Photographs 

• Proof of financial hardship (documents that indicate the registered owner is a recipient of government assistance such as CPP, EI, Ontario Works, or ODSP)

• Medical notes 

• Other supporting information

The cancellation or rescheduling of your hearing may be done in accordance with the below conditions: 

1. Cancellation Window: Cancellations or rescheduling must be made at least three (3) days prior to the scheduled Review.  
2. Late Cancellation Procedure: If an emergency or unforeseen circumstance prevents you from attending within the 3-day window, please contact us immediately at 1-877-711-3169 or by email at AMPS@townofbwg.com. However, be aware that cancellations made within this time frame may still be subject to our policy.
3. No-Show and Late Cancellations: Failure to attend a scheduled Review or cancel within the required time frame may result in penalties or forfeiture of certain privileges. Failure to attend your hearing will result in a $60.00 no-show fee being added to the Penalty Order. 

Penalty orders will be forwarded to MTO for licence plate denial if the penalty amount has not been paid by the due date or if a Screening or Hearing has not been requested within the required timelines. A late payment fee of $20 will be added to penalty orders forwarded to the MTO.

Sensors are able to detect if a vehicle passes the stop bar/crosswalk AFTER a traffic light signals red. If your vehicle passes the stop bar while the traffic signal is amber, a ticket will not be issued. 

A stop bar is a solid white line that is painted across driving lanes at an intersection. This bar indicates the legal point at which a vehicle must come to a complete stop for a traffic signal or stop sign. Stop bars can also be placed before a crosswalk, and help allow pedestrians to cross safely without having the crosswalk being blocked. 

The image below shows a white stop bar on the road before an intersection:

As a red light camera is directly connected to the intersections traffic signal system, the camera is able to know the exact moment a traffic signal becomes red. Using this information, the camera is able to produce two images, the first showing a vehicle before entering the intersection while the light is red, and the second showing a vehicle within the intersection while the traffic signal shows red. 

This is most likely caused as a result of the vehicle clearing the intersection before the camera is able to capture the second image. 

Red-light penalty orders are also issued if individuals do not come to a complete stop when making a right-hand turn. The most common occurrence is when vehicles perform a "rolling stop". Under the Highway Traffic Act in Ontario, when a red light is shown on the traffic signal drivers must come to a complete stop before proceeding with a right-hand turn.