Q&A - Unpaid Traffic Tickets and Collection Agencies

Question: Are collection agencies involved in collecting unpaid traffic tickets issued in BC? The collection agency that contacted me has been sending correspondence to an address in Delta. I have not had a drivers licence in BC or lived in BC for a long time. Now 7 years later they want me to pay the fine or risk having it effect my credit rating.

Is there a time limitation as to when a speeding ticket must be paid in BC? I don't feel I was given fair notice or was I given any information on how to dispute the ticket other than when the ticket was originally issued to me by the RCMP.

The Back of the Ticket

The back of your blue copy of the violation ticket contains a fairly comprehensive set of instructions on how to deal with the ticket. I find the gray print on blue paper is a bit harder to read than I would prefer, but hey, I'm not 25 years old anymore either.

There is a paragraph there with the title WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT PAY?

If you do not pay or dispute this ticket within thirty (30) days of the Date of Service, the ticketed amount shown on the front will be payable to the Crown. The described offence(s) will be added to your record as convictions. In addition, you will be subject to collection activity.

So, if you simply ignored the ticket, the payment was due 30 days after you received it.

Action by Collection Agencies

ICBC confirms that unpaid tickets are turned over to collection agencies for action.

Keep Your Address Up To Date

As for the address, what was the one shown on the ticket when you received it? Was it the correct address for you at the time?

Learn More

• Paying a Ticket - ICBC
• Fines, Payments and Traffic Tickets - Province of BC

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