Form 4 - Offence Notice

Offence Notice

Form 4, Provincial Offences Act | O. Reg. 108/11 Ontario Court of Justice | POA 0849 (Rev. May 2021)

What This Form Is

The Offence Notice is the document served on a person charged under Part I of the Provincial Offences Act. It is issued alongside the Certificate of Offence and handed directly to the person charged at the time of the alleged offence. Where the Certificate of Offence is the court's charging record, the Offence Notice is the accused's copy — and it comes with a deadline.

What It Contains

The front of the form mirrors the Certificate of Offence: the accused's identifying information, the date, time, and location of the alleged offence, the specific offence and the provision of law contravened, vehicle and plate details where applicable, and the set fine with total payable amount (including the victim fine surcharge and costs). The issuing officer certifies personal service on the accused.

The 15-Day Clock and the Three Options

The back of the Offence Notice is where it gets consequential. From the moment of receipt, the accused has 15 days to choose one of three options:

Option 1 — Guilty Plea / Voluntary Payment: Pay the total payable amount. The matter is resolved without a court appearance.

Option 2 — Early Resolution: Request a meeting with the prosecutor to discuss possible resolution. Choosing this option does not waive the right to a trial. Failure to attend the scheduled meeting results in a deemed non-dispute and a conviction may be entered in the accused's absence.

Option 3 — Trial: File a Notice of Intention to Appear, enter a not guilty plea, and proceed to trial. Failure to attend trial may result in conviction in absentia.

If none of the options are exercised within 15 days, the accused is deemed not to dispute the charge. A clerk reviews the Certificate of Offence for defects — if it is complete and regular, a conviction is entered without any court appearance by the accused. Defaulted fines carry additional administrative charges, potential reporting to consumer agencies, and for certain offences including speeding, licence suspension.