SECTION C – CASELOADS & STATISTICS

The POA Program’s caseload is dependent upon charges laid by professional law enforcement personnel and agencies. The workflow of the POA Program commences with the initiation by Police and other Officers of legal proceedings against alleged violators of provincial legislation and municipal by-laws. Legal proceedings are instituted by personal service upon the Defendant of either a Provincial Offence Notice (also known as a Part I ticket) or a more formal Summons to Defendant requiring attendance at court (also known as a Part III ticket). These charges are ultimately disposed of by an independent and impartial judiciary presiding in the form of the POA Court. Pursuant to Part X of the POA and the Transfer Agreement, the POA Program receives fine revenue from Part I and Part III charges, provided that the fine revenue is not “dedicated” to some special purpose. Further detailed distinctions are possible, as indicated below:

Charges laid by traditional P olice forces being local police services including the OPP: all fine revenues belong to the POA Program virtually without exception unless the charges are laid under federal legislation or under certain municipal bylaws

Charges laid by specialized Police forces, such as the OPP contingent securing Casino Windsor: for the most part all fine revenues belong to the POA Program, unless charges are laid under federal legislation (for example by the CNR or CPR police under the Railway Safety Act of Canada)

Charges laid by specialized agencies and most Provincial Ministries, for example the Ministry of Labour under the Occupational Health and Safety Act: for the most part all fine revenues belong to the POA Program, unless there is statutory dedication

Charges laid by Municipal Inspectors and Police Officers under bylaws (e.g. licensing, zoning, noise, prohibited turns, parking, etc.) and provincial statutes (e.g. Building Code Act): the fine revenues belong to the charging municipality, with the POA Program receiving no compensation for services rendered and facilities made available, other than relatively insignificant court costs/fees

Charges laid under federal enactments, or by certain Provincial Ministries or bodies in situations where the fines are statutorily “dedicated” to special purposes: the POA Program receives no fine revenue or other compensation for services rendered and facilities made available, other than relatively insignificant court costs/fees.

In 2019, the POA Program took in a total of 29,682 charging documents, for a monthly average intake of approximately 2,474 tickets. This was up 16.3% from the prior year. TABLE C-1 which follows below depicts the absolute charging volume and the percentage of total volume over a three year period, by enforcement agency.

NOTE: The numbers and/or percentages of charges do not necessarily translate into more or less fine revenue generation. The quality of the charges is important along with the final resolution of the fines.