TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1986
WRITE-OFF OF FIXED PENALTY DEBTS, COSTS SOUGHT
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A PROPOSAL TO WRITE OFF AN AMOUNT OF ABOUT $54.9 MILLION IN OUTSTANDING DEBTS AND COURT COSTS IN RESPECT OF THE FIXED PENALTY SYSTEM (TRAFFIC CONTRAVENTIONS) FOR THE PERIOD BETWEEN APRIL 1, 1981 AND MARCH 31, 1984 WILL BE PUT BEFORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THIS AMOUNT INCLUDES $34 189 000 OF FIXED PENALTIES STILL OUTSTANDING AT MARCH 31, 1986 AND $20 752 745 OF COURT COSTS AWARDED TO THE GOVERNMENT.
THE WRITE-OFF OF THESE DEBTS IS TO CLOSE LONG OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTS AND TO ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND THE REGISTRAR, SUPREME COURT TO CONCENTRATE ON MORE RECENT CASES.
THE WRITE-OFF IS NECESSARY IN CASES WHERE THE FIXED PENALTY AND COSTS HAVE BEEN RIGHTLY IMPOSED BUT THESE CANNOT BE COLLECTED BECAUSE THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAD BEEN SCRAPPED, EXPORTED, CONFISCATED OR THE OWNERS ARE NOT TRACEABLE.
THERE WERE ALSO OTHER TECHNICAL PROBLEMS AND AS A RESULT THE CANCELLATION OR WAIVER OF CERTAIN FIXED PENALTIES WERE NECESSARY.
MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN REMEDIAL MEASURES TO REDUCE ARREARS AND RECOVER DEBTS.
SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE AMENDED FIXED ́PENALTY (TRAFFIC CONTRAVENTIONS) ORDINANCE IN APRIL 1984, THE COLLECTION RATE OF FIXED PENALTIES HAS IMPROVED AND THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF CASES REFERRED TO COURTS.
THE AMENDED LEGISLATION INTRODUCED AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY FOR PARKING OFFENCES IN CASES WHERE THE FIXED PENALTY NOTICE IS IGNORED, OR WHERE A PERSON OFFERS NO DEFENCE OR A DEFENCE WHICH IS FRIVOLOUS OR VEXATIOUS, AND EMPOWERS THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO REFUSE TO ISSUE OR RENEW A DRIVING LICENCE OF THE PERSON WHO FAILS TO PAY THE SUM ADJUDGED TO BE PAID BY THE COURT IN RESPECT OF PARKING OFFENCES.
THE AMENDMENTS WERE MADE TO INDUCE EARLIER PAYMENT OF FIXED PENALTY FINES THEREBY REDUCING THE NEED TO RESORT TO SUMMONS ACTION: TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SUMMONSES BY PLACING THE ONUS FOR NOTIFYING DISPUTED LIABILITY UPON THE DEFENDANT; AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO IMPROVE THE MEASURES THEN IN EXISTENCE FOR ENFORCING COLLECTION OF FINES.
/OTHER ITEMS