Regional Municipal Court

COVID-19 | Special measures

Please note that court sessions at the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional Municipal Court will resume as of June 1st. The sessions will be held in camera and only persons who have been summoned will be allowed to enter the MRC’s Civic Center. Time slots for the various causes will be determined in advance and people will have to wait outside for their summons.

Due to COVID-19, please note that except for cases deemed urgent by the courts, are suspended until the declaration of a public health emergency expires:

  • To transmit a plea of guilty or not guilty after service of a statement of offence;
  • To file an application for revocation of a judgment rendered by default;
  • To pay a sum due to the collector;

 

However, it is still possible to:

  • Pay your statement of offence online with Constats Express at mrcvs.ca (free of charge during the crisis);
  • Send your guilty or not guilty plea by email at cmrvs@mrcvs.ca.
The counter of the regional municipal court is now closed to clients because of COVID-19. For all other information requests, please call 450 455-9480 or by email at cmrvs@mrcvs.ca.

 

Collection for payment default of municipal and school taxes

Collections for payment default of municipal and schools taxes are suspended. For more information, please call 450 455-5753 x 0.

The Cour municipale régionale de Vaudreuil-Soulanges is a first hearing court with jurisdiction of original jurisdiction in criminal matters, within the MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges. The municipal court serves a population of more than 160,000 citizens, throughout the 23 municipalities of the territory.

What if you have received a statement of offence?

In order to meet and exceed its clientele’s needs, the Cour municipale régionale de la MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges offers a new online payment service, with fees averaging $5 per payment. Here are the main advantages:

  • 24/7 service, thereby eliminating schedule constraints;
  • Payment made in full by credit card;
  • Information is kept secure and confidential – you will receive a confirmation number and a receipt to print, as well as an email confirmation of your transaction;
  • Direct access to your file on the regional municipal court’s database;
  • Late fees avoided (ease of making timely payment);
  • Instant update of your personal filer.
Pay Statement of Offence (free of charge during COVID-19 crisis)
The total amount (fine and fee) is required. Partial payment is not accepted. For Payment Agreements, a fee of $1.08 is applicable per payment. Payment by credit card only (debit cards or prepaid credit cards are not accepted).

Due to COVID-19, please note that there is a delay in the processing of statements of offence. You can still pay your statement online by making sure you have entered the correct information.

View the flowchart of procedures to follow if you have received a statement of offence (available in French only)

By mail:

Payments can be made by cheque, bank draft or money order payable to “Cour municipale régionale de Vaudreuil-Soulanges”. You must attach to your payment the reply form identifying the offence number. Please note that if your licence is suspended, personal cheques are not accepted.

280 Boulevard Harwood
Vaudreuil-Dorion (QC) J7V 1Y5
Telephone: 450-455-9480
Fax: 450-455-8856
Email: cmrvs@mrcvs.ca

In-person

Visit our offices any time during business hours. Cash, cheques, bank drafts, debit card and credit card payments (VISA and MasterCard) are accepted.

In-person at your financial institution:

Within 30 days of receiving your statement, the full payment will be accepted at most financial institutions upon presenting the statement of offence.

Online, via Accès D de Desjardins or (English) Banque Nationale / National Bank Internet Banking Solutions (English)

To make a payment this way, you must be a customer of Desjardins or of the National Bank of Canada and you must be registered with the Internet service of those institutions. Payment must be received within 30 days.

AccèsD:
Category: Infractions.
Description: MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges – Infractions.
National Bank / Banque Nationale:
Name of the Supplier/Facture: MRC V-Soulanges.

Processing your statement of offence

When communicating with the court, whether by email, mail, fax or in person, you must be able to provide the following information:

  • Statement of offence number;
  • Your full name;
  • Your complete address: (civic number, street, city, postal code);
  • Your phone number;
  • Your date of birth.

 

You are obligated to enter a guilty or not guilty plea within 30 days after the date of receipt of the infraction.

Guilty plea

If you plead guilty to the infraction, you must pay the entire fine and requested fees in order to avoid any extra fee or inconvenience (licence suspension, wage garnishment, warrant, etc.)
When a payment is sent to the Court, you are deemed guilty of the offence.

Not guilty plea

If you plead not guilty to the offence, you must send your plea to the court with the reply form attached to the statement of offence. Your plea must be forwarded to the court within a maximum of 30 days after receiving the notice of infraction.
It should be noted that despite the preference (day or night) that you request for your hearing, the Court is not bound to honour your choice. However, if you are convicted, additional fees will be charged.

Notice of hearing

After making your not guilty plea, you will receive by mail a notice of hearing indicating the place, date and time for the hearing of your case.

Change of plea before the hearing

You can change your plea of not guilty to guilty. The municipal court must receive your new plea before the time scheduled for your hearing. Additional fees may apply.

Requesting an interpreter

If you need an interpreter after receiving your notice of hearing, you must inform the municipal court in writing or by telephone. This request must be made within 10 business days before the time scheduled for the hearing.

Request for postponement of the hearing

If, for serious reasons, you cannot attend your hearing on the set date of the hearing, you can apply to re-schedule. This request must be provided in writing no later than noon on the last Friday preceding your hearing, and must be confirmed by the court registry. If the request is granted, a fee of $33 per case is automatically added. Otherwise, you will be sentenced by default and you will have to pay for the judgment rendered.

Summons to witness (appearance notice or subpoena)

If you receive an appearance notice, you are obligated to be present in Court to testify. You could be legally charged if you refuse to attend.

Hearing

The hearing of a case generally takes place in five main steps:

1. Calling of the docket
The docket call is done at the beginning of the session. All cases entered will be named one by one. It is important that those summoned confirm their presence at the moment when they are called.
2. Prosecution’s evidence
The prosecutor presents evidence first. It generally consists of the statement of offence that you received and the offence report.
3. Defence’s evidence
Once the prosecution’s case has been heard, you will then be able to present your case, testify as to the facts relating to the offence and present your witnesses, if any. You will also be allowed to produce documents or any other material to support your defence. If applicable, you must provide three copies of these documents for the judge, the prosecutor and yourself.

The prosecutor may, thereafter, cross-examine you and your witnesses.

4. Closing arguments
Once both sides have presented all evidence, the judge will hear conclusions from both parties and then render a decision.
5. Decision
The judge may deliver his or her judgment from the bench (a judgement delivered orally) or will adjourn for deliberation (a judgement delivered in writing). He or she will then schedule a judgment date. In either case, you will receive a notice of judgment by mail.

If you are found guilty, additional fees will appear on the notice of judgment, as specified in the Tariff of court costs in penal matters.

If you do not submit a plea or the full amount of the requested fine and costs within the required deadline, an ex parte decision will be rendered against you, without any notice. Additional charges will be added to your file. Upon receipt of the notice of judgment, you must pay the requested amount within 30 days.

What if you have received a notice of judgment?

You have 30 days from the date of judgment to pay the fines and the fees imposed by the Court unless the judge has granted you an extension. The deadline for payment is written on the notice of judgment that you received.

It is mandatory that the full payment be made either in person at the office of the Regional municipal court, by mail, by cheque or online at Constats Express website.

Payment default

Failure to make payment within the requested delay will initiate procedures against you such as:

  • suspension of driver’s licence;
  • wage garnishment;
  • a warrant;
  • imprisonment.

Court Sessions

Sessions are presided over by the Honourable Judge Gilles Chaloux.

Code of Ethics

Dress code:

You are to be decently and respectably dressed when you present yourself in court. As an example, it is forbidden to wear a t-shirt, shorts, sunglasses, a hat or a cap.

Behavior:

You must always:

 

  • rise when you are addressing anyone in court and address them in a respectful tone (using the vous form in French);
  • use the phrase “Your Honour” (or “Monsieur le juge” or “Madame la juge” in French) when addressing the court.

 

Possibility of expulsion:

Any person who commits one of the following acts may be subject to expulsion from the courtroom:

 

  • consuming food or beverages;
  • speaking, reading or writing;
  • adopting a relaxed posture;
  • showing disrespect.

 

Prohibited devices:

Cameras, recording devices, and cell phones that are turned on are not allowed in the courtroom.

 

Recommendation:

It is strongly advised not to attend a court session with a child under 12 years of age.

Contact Information and Business Hours

Regional Municipal Court of Vaudreuil-Soulanges

280 Boulevard Harwood
Vaudreuil-Dorion, Québec J7V 1Y5

Telephone : 450-455-9480
Fax: 450-455-8856
Email: cmrvs@mrcvs.ca

Business Hours
Monday through Thursday: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Friday: 8:30am – 12:00pm

Useful contact information:

Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (S.A.A.Q.)

937 Boulevard Cité des Jeunes
Vaudreuil-Dorion, J7V 8P2
Telephone: 450-455-5560

Sûreté du Québec poste Est

599 Boulevard Harwood
Vaudreuil-Dorion, J7V 7W2
Telephone: 450-424-1212

Sûreté du Québec poste Ouest

551 Route 201
St-Clet, J0P 1S0
Telephone: 450-456-3883