Website helps residents resolve violation tickets

VICTORIA — As of July 8, British Columbians can go online to help resolve violation ticket disputes faster and without always having to go to court.

A new website has been launched at https://tickets.gov.bc.ca. The province says the web-based tool uses plain language and simple questions to guide users to relevant information and resources to help resolve their ticketing issue themselves.

The site provides details about:

• how to pay and dispute tickets;
• how to request a fine reduction or time to pay; and
• other ticket-related information, depending on the individual’s needs.

The site will provide information about provincial violation tickets, including tickets related to the Motor Vehicle Act such as speeding or red-light violations and driving without insurance. Residents will also find information about tickets issued for offences under municipal or federal laws, such as operating without a business licence or fishing without a licence.

“We know that integrating technology into our justice system has significant benefits, making it easier and more efficient for people to interact with the courts,” David Eby, Attorney General of B.C., said. “This new tool will consolidate existing information into one place, helping British Columbians to learn about and resolve their ticket issues without always having to go to court. It is another step forward as we work to update B.C.’s justice system to better support the needs of people.”

Every year, more than 500,000 violation tickets are issued in B.C., with about 80,000 ticket disputes scheduled for hearing at the B.C. Provincial Court.

“The Provincial Court welcomes this new online resource for people to obtain information about their traffic and other violation tickets, and the steps they can take to deal with them,” said Melissa Gillespie, Chief Judge of the Provincial Court. “Our website metrics show there’s a high interest in this information, and the ‘guided pathways’ in this tool will help people find specific information about their type of ticket quickly and easily.”