FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT GIVEN THE NEED FOR FIXED PENALTY SYSTEMS, THEY SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED AS FAIRLY AS POSSIBLE, AND THE AMENDMENT ORDINANCES SHOULD PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF DEALING WITH THE MINORITY WHO TRY TO AVOID PAYING THEIR PENALTIES.
TO GIVE MOTORISTS A FAIR WARNING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROVISIONS FOR COLLECTING ADDITIONAL PENALTIES FOR LATE PAYMENT, A WARNING IS INCLUDED IN THE APPROPRIATE STATUTORY FORMS, INCLUDING THE FIXED PENALTY NOTICES TO BE USED FROM APRIL 1.
THE AMENDMENT REGULATIONS INTRODUCING THESE REVISED FORMS WERE ALSO GAZETTED TODAY.
THE LEGISLATION WILL STILL CATER FOR THOSE PERSONS WHO GENUINELY DID NOT RECEIVE A FIXED PENALTY NOTICE OR SUBSEQUENT DEMAND NOTICE.
IF THEY CAN SATISFY A MAGISTRATE THAT THIS WAS THE CASE, THEY NEED PAY ONLY THE ORIGINAL FIXED PENALTY AND NOT ANY ADDITIONAL PENALTY.
TIGHTER CONTROL OVER 'LOAN SHARKS' PLANNED
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THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO STRENGTHEN CONTROL OVER +LOAN SHARKS+ BY EXTENDING THE TIME LIMIT FOR INSTITUTING PROSECUTIONS FOR CHARGING EXCESSIVE INTEREST FROM THE PRESENT SIX MONTHS TO TWO YEARS.
THE PROPOSAL IS CONTAINED IN THE MONEY LENDERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
EXPLAINING THE MOVE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MONEY LENDERS REGISTRY OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE MONEY LENDERS ORDINANCE IT IS AN OFFENCE FOR ANYONE TO LEND MONEY AT AN INTEREST RATE IN EXCESS OF 60 PER CENT PER ANNUM. AS NO TIME LIMIT FOR PROSECUTION IS LAID DOWN IN THE ORDINANCE, THE MAGISTRATES ORDINANCE APPLIES, AND THE TIME LIMIT FOR INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS IS, THEREFORE, SIX MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE COMMISSION OF THE OFFENCE.
EXPERIENCE HAD SHOWN THAT NUMEROUS CASES OF THIS NATURE ONLY CAME TO LIGHT, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE LAW ENFORCING AUTHORITIES, AFTER MORE THAN SIX MONTHS. OF THE CASES THAT HAD BEEN PROSECUTED WITHIN THE EXISTING STATUTORY PERIOD, IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN HALF HAD ONLY BEEN DETECTED BECAUSE THEY WERE CONNECTED WITH OTHER CRIMINAL CASES, SUCH AS BLACKMATI AND ASSAULT.
/+I VIEW