Screening Office Checklist
This checklist provides an example of a policy for how a screening officer should interact with a disputant during the screening process. More information about screening officers can be found on the Local Government page.
- State your authority to make a determination based upon authority granted by the Local Government bylaw.
- Identify your name and position as a Screening Officer.
- Discuss the Bylaw Notice, listen carefully to the disputant’s information, and record this information.
- Advise the disputant that they may pay the fine before the early discount deadline to receive that discount. However, once the Bylaw Notice goes forward to Adjudication, the early discount is lost, and an adjudication fee is added to the full penalty. At the Adjudication, if the Bylaw Notice is cancelled, no fees or penalties need to be paid.
- Determine how the disputant wishes to proceed with the hearing (in person, by phone, in writing, or remote).
- Provide the address of the Adjudication Hearing room and advise of any necessary contact information such as email address and mailing address if the disputant wishes to submit documents.
- Advise the disputant that if the adjudicator upholds the Bylaw Notice, it is due and payable immediately. Also, advise the disputant that the fine increases 21 days after adjudication and then proceeds to collection.
- Verify you have the correct address, email address and phone number for the disputant.
- Ask if the disputant has any more questions or needs any more information.
- Ask if the disputant wishes to say anything else at all and note the response.
- During the call or another call at a later date,inform the disputant of your decision to cancel or uphold the Bylaw Notice.
- If upholding the Bylaw Notice, consult with the disputant regarding their availability for a hearing date, and proceed with setting a hearing date. Send the hearing date confirmation to the disputant as well as instructions as to how and when to submit evidence prior to the hearing date.