Ron Klicka, a resident of Jasper, Ont., received a final notice on Jan. 20, 2026, for a parking violation dated Dec. 7, 1987, near Guelph’s train station. The original fine totaled $24.50, but with a $10 late fee, he paid $34.50 in full after confirming its legitimacy with city officials.
A Surprise from the Past
Klicka, who lived in Guelph during the 1980s but now resides near Ottawa, expressed shock upon opening the letter. “I opened it up and I see a parking ticket from Guelph. I mean, it’s been a couple of years since I’ve been in Guelph,” he said. “And then I looked at the offence date and it said 1987.”
He immediately contacted the city’s provincial offences office. “They said, ‘No, it’s legit and you owe us $24.50.’ I said ‘fine,’ so I paid it,” Klicka added with a chuckle.
Klicka does not recall receiving the original ticket. He noted that he has only had three parking tickets since starting to drive in 1982, all paid promptly without issues during licence renewals. “My guess is downtown someone either took the ticket off the windshield or it didn’t stay or something,” he speculated. Moves to Alberta and back may have delayed delivery, despite decades of Ontario licensing.
City’s Approach to Unpaid Fines
Amy Rocha, supervisor of financial operations for legal and court services in Guelph, explained that provinces shifted fine collection responsibilities to municipalities in 2000. “To maintain the integrity of the justice system, every effort is made to collect court-ordered fines, regardless of age,” she stated.
Typically, unpaid tickets appear during driver’s licence or plate sticker renewals, but Rocha said officials are unsure why this case slipped through. Recent provincial changes eliminating mandatory plate renewals have complicated collections further.
Guelph faces significant challenges, with approximately $12 million in outstanding fines citywide. Enforcement options include third-party collection agencies, adding fines to property taxes, or court action, though these prove resource-heavy. Residents with unpaid tickets can contact staff to discuss payment plans or extensions.
Klicka was surprised by the scale. “They actually do add up. It’s your property taxes. If we had those tickets paid for, then it would be a good chunk of money.”
