Fine payments extended additional 90 days

SYDNEY — In a bid to reduce the number of people entering provincial courthouses across the province, those seeking to pay fines have been granted an additional 90 days to pay.

Restrictions set in place to deal with the spread of the COVID-19 virus have limited public access to courthouses and other government locations. While some restrictions have been eased, there remains an overriding concern to limit the size of people gathering.

Jennifer Stairs, communications director for the courts, said another payment option for individuals is online. She reminds individuals to ensure they have a debit or credit card and the ticket number to complete an online payment.

She said individuals who received parking tickets with court dates in July and August will receive a new summons shortly with directions to appear by telephone on a specific date and time if they wish to plead not guilty.

“To further reduce visitors at courthouses, the Registry of Motor Vehicles has suspended issuing certificates of default for an additional 90day period, effective May 16, 2020. This relates to default convictions for summary offence tickets and parking tickets,” said Stairs.

Service Nova Scotia has also suspended issuing certificates of default for nonpayment of fines related to criminal convictions, effective May 20, 2020. The situation with both suspension periods will be re-evaluated before the end of the 90 days, she said.

For further information on the measures implemented in the provincial court, refer to the consolidated COVID-19 directive on the courts’ website.