To protect the public and prevent the spread of COVID-19, Albertans with a traffic court date are being asked not to come to the courthouse in person.
According to a press release from the provincial Court of Alberta, defendants and witnesses in trials for traffic, provincial offence or bylaw tickets need to contact the courthouse by phone or email before their trial date.
“Too many Albertans are trying to appear in Traffic Court thinking that their matter will be heard in person,” the release stated. “Do not attend Traffic Court for any trial scheduled up to and including Friday, September 4, 2020.”
According to the release, the courthouse must be contacted for tickets that request an appearance by telephone or email. Some courthouses may not be open to the public or accessible at all, the release said, so check both sides of the ticket to see if there is an alternate court location specified for contact.
Alberta court locations can be found at albertacourts.ca and fines can be paid at fines.alberta.ca. Service fees are waived until further notice.
“If you have a 'mandatory court' ticket – a pink coloured ticket – or you were released by the Court on a release order, and you failed to contact Traffic Court on or before the scheduled appearance date, you may have a warrant outstanding for your arrest,” the release said.
“You may wish to contact the courthouse you were supposed to appear at for more information about options for how to address your warrant and the charge.”
