University District Safety Initiative

University District Safety Initiative

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Content - City Hall - Bylaws - Nuisance Party Bylaw

  Historically, Kingston has struggled with recurring unsanctioned street parties that have drawn thousands of people to the University District. Unsafe and disruptive behaviours often accompany these parties and put the community at risk by putting a significant strain on emergency services and creating dangerous situations when roads and traffic are blocked. In an effort to curb these behaviours and their effects, the City of Kingston, Kingston Police and Queen's University have collaborated to introduce the University District Safety Initiative.    

The pillars of this initiative include:

  • changes to how people will be charged for committing specific offences at certain times of the year and for any contravention of the Nuisance Party Bylaw occurring at any time,
  • information-sharing between the City, police and the university, and
  • potential university-related non-academic consequences for any Queen's University student issued a summons through the initiative.

Those charged for committing an identified offence (see list in "What type of behaviour is the UDSI intended to address?" answer below) during Orientation week, Homecoming weekend and St. Patrick's Day – or for any offence under the Nuisance Party Bylaw – could now be issued either a Part I Court Summons or Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMP).

Individuals issued a Part I Court Summons will need to appear before a Justice of the Peace in Kingston, regardless of where they live, and will not have the option to settle the charge by mail, online or by phone. The goal is to ensure that people charged with an offence account for their actions in person.

Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the associated risks that nuisance behaviours could pose to the Kingston community, Council introduced AMPs as a more responsive approach to addressing nuisance behaviour. Any resident who is charged under the City’s Nuisance Party or Noise Bylaws could be issued a ticket that must be paid through the City instead of the Provincial court system.

Learn more about Administrative Monetary Penalties.

In addition to fines or penalties, people who conduct or host nuisance parties may be liable for fees from Kingston Fire & Rescue, Kingston Police and/or municipal bylaw officers for attending the scene. The current fee is $90 per officer, per hour (or part thereof). Failure to pay these fees could result in civil Court action or recovery through a collections agency.

Flow Chart showing the process of what happens when an administrative monetary penalty is levied

Content - City Hall - Bylaws - Nuisance Party Bylaw accordion

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Nuisance Party Bylaw and the University District Safety Initiative related?

While both have similarities and may overlap, they are distinct enforcement tools. The regulatory purpose of a nuisance party bylaw is to create a duty upon those hosting a social gathering or party to control the participants' behaviour and be responsible for any actions as a result of that behaviour.

The pillars of the University District Safety Initiative are changes in how people are charged at certain times of the year (and under the Nuisance Party Bylaw year-round), potential university related non-academic consequences for any Queen's University student charged, and information sharing between the city, police and the university. The purpose of the program is to ensure all accused persons account for their actions to a Justice of the Peace and that Queen's also has an opportunity to review the behaviours of its students in these instances. 

When does the University District Safety Initiative take effect?

The City will enact the University District Safety Initiative from 12 a.m. on Monday, March 11 2024 until Monday, March 18 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

What are the boundaries of the University District?

Kingston Police and Bylaw Enforcement have the discretion to enforce the initiative city-wide. The name of the initiative identifies the neighbourhood that has historically been the site of the problematic gatherings targeted by the initiative.

What is the process once a Part I Summons is issued?

If you're issued a Part I Summons to appear in court, does that mean you will have a criminal record?

No. The identified offences, including any offence under the Nuisance Party Bylaw, are regulatory offences prosecuted in the Provincial Offences Court. Even if you are convicted of the offence, you will not have a criminal record.

How does the Administrative Monetary Penalty process differ from the provincial process?

Fines issued under the Nuisance Party and Noise Bylaws can be processed by the Provincial Offences Court system (under the Provincial Offences Act).

In this case, when a person receives a ticket, they may request a trial and have the matter adjudicated in court.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, operations at the provincial level have been suspended.

Instead, under the AMP process:

  • The individual who is alleged to contravene the bylaw receives a penalty notice, instead of a Provincial Offences Act ticket.

  • The individual may appeal to a screening officer.

  • If not satisfied by the decision, the matter can then be referred to an external hearing officer for a final decision. The external hearing officer’s decision is final.

Learn more about Administrative Monetary Penalties.

With the Administrative Monetary Penalty process can I still be issued a Part One Court Summons?

Yes. Kingston Police and Municipal Enforcement Officers will discretion to issue fines under either the Provincial Offences Act of Administrative Monetary Penalty process. If the infraction is a repeat offence, posses significant risk to the community or is under the Nuisance Party Bylaw, a Part One Court summons may still be issued.

What type of behaviour is the University District Safety Initiative intended to address?

Below is a list of offences that the initiative captures:

Nuisance Party Bylaw 2018-53

  • Create, cause, host, sponsor, conduct, continue, permit a nuisance party, s. 4.2
  • Fail to comply with order to cease or leave a nuisance party, s. 4.6
  • Permit subsequent nuisance party after receipt of warning notice, s. 4.10
  • Use closed highway, s. 5.3
  • Remove or deface a device placed on closed highway, s. 5.4
  • Obstruct or hinder an officer, employee or agent, s. 6.2
  • Attempt to obstruct or hinder an officer, employee or agent, s. 6.2

Liquor Licence Act

  • Person under 19 years having or consuming liquor, s. 30(8)
  • Having liquor in open container or consuming liquor in other than licensed premises, residence or private place, s. 31(2)
  • Being intoxicated in public place, s. 31(4)

Noise Bylaw 2004-52

  • Make, cause, permit noise by operating a device for the amplification of sound at prohibited time, s. 4.2, Sch. B, s. 6
  • Make, cause, permit noise by yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, singing or the playing of musical instruments at prohibited time, s. 4.2, Sch. B, s. 15

Are additional behaviours now prohibited under this program?

No. The identified offences included in this program involve behaviours that are, and always have been, against the law. The Initiative attempts to identify and deter the problem behaviours exhibited frequently in the University District during these specific times of year (and year-round under the Nuisance Party Bylaw).

If I'm in the University District while the initiative is in effect, should I be worried about getting a summons to court?

No. If you are in the University District while the initiative is in effect, you can only be issued a summons if you are engaged in one of the behaviours outlined in the list of identified offences.

If you are engaged in a behaviour on the list of identified offences, a warning and/or summons may be issued and is subject to the discretion of municipal enforcement and police officers.  

Is the University District Safety Initiative a permanent program?

The pilot program was re-evaluated in the spring of 2019. Kingston City council adopted the initiative as a permanent program on July 9, 2019. 

How will Queen's proceed once student information is obtained concerning those who are issued a Part I Summons?

People who are issued a Part I Summons will have their names posted on a public court docket. This information will be shared with the university in order to identify those individuals who are Queen's students. Queen's students will be identified and assessed as appropriate through the university's student code of conduct system. The University will look at each person individually to determine what consequences are most appropriate, depending on the situation. For more information please visit the Queen's University Student Conduct page.

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