How To Pay or Dispute a Violation Ticket in British Columbia

OK, so now you have one, or you think you may get one sometime for a moving traffic violation - what to do:

You can either pay or dispute the ticket. Paying the ticket in full or in part is considered a plea of guilty to the offence that the office has described to you on the ticket.

Payments and Notices of Dispute for tickets are due within 30 days of the date the police officer issued the ticket.

If you don’t pay within the 30 day period, you are deemed to be guilty of the offence charged on the front of the ticket, and the full amount is due and payable immediately. The full ticket amount includes the amount of the fine, plus a 15 per cent victim surcharge.

The offence will be added to your record as a conviction, and if you don’t pay, ICBC will probably not renew your licenses in the future.

How To Pay Or Dispute A Violation Ticket In British Columbia

  1. How do you Pay?

    You can deliver it in person to a Government Agent or any Drivers Service Center.
    Or, you can mail it.
    Send your cheque or money order payable to the Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations to:
    Ticket Payment Processing
    PO Box 3505 STN CSC
    Victoria, B.C.
    V8W 3N9

    DO NOT SEND CASH

    Include a copy of the front of the Violation Ticket or correspondence which will include your name, address, ticket number, driver’s license number, and date of birth. Outline the date, Act, and Section number of the offence.

  2. How To Dispute a Ticket:
    You may dispute either the allegation or the fine portion of the ticket amount. If you choose to dispute the ticket, it is important that you indicate the type of dispute you wish to file.

    If you do not agree that you committed the offence for which you have been charged, then you need to dispute the “allegation.” If you agree that you committed the offence, but wish to make representation to the court for a reduction in the amount of the fine indicated on your ticket, then you are disputing the “fine”.

    You may dispute a Violation Ticket by filing a Notice of Dispute by mail or in person.

    By Mail: Send a copy of the front of your Violation Ticket with a letter indicating whether you are disputing the allegation or the fine portion of the ticketed amount. Your letter must include the following information:
    Ticket number (located on the top right corner of the front of the ticket)
    Your full name, address, driver’s license number, and your date of birth.
    Violation date, Act and Section number of the offence.

    If you fail to include these details, the dispute may not be recorded and you would be deemed guilty of the described offence.

    DO NOT include evidence for court purposes such as videos or pictures with your Notice of Dispute.

    Mail your Notice of Dispute to:

    Ticket Dispute Processing
    Bag #3510
    Victoria, B.C. V8W 3P7

  3. Filing Your Notice of Dispute In Person:

    You may register your dispute at any Driver Services Center, Government Agent’s Office, Appointed Agent’s Office, or Provincial Court Registry. You must bring your copy of the Violation Ticket. You may also be required to complete a Notice of Dispute form which is available at these locations.

    If you are unable to file your Notice of Dispute within the 30-day deadline - and not more than 14 days have elapsed since the expiry date of the dispute, you may appear at a Provincial Court Registry to file an affidavit. 

    After you file your dispute, you will receive a Notice Of Hearing in the mail from the Provincial Court Registry advising you of the time and location of your court hearing. It’s up to you to provide the Registry with an address change if you move after you file.

    If you don’t show up for court, you are deemed to be guilty as originally charged, and the ticketed amount will become payable immediately to the Province, and a conviction will be added to your driving record.

    If you have any questions for clarification, you may contact your Provincial Court Registry, Government Agent, or Appointed Agent’s Office.

For More Information See " Fines and Penalty Points"

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