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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1989
NEW FIXED PENALTY FINE DEMAND NOTE
TRAFFIC POLICE ARE HOPING ΤΟ PUT AN END TO A LINGERING CONFUSION AMONG MOTORISTS OVER THE PAYMENT PROCEDURE OF FIXED PENALTY FINE THROUGH THE USE OF A NEWLY DESIGNED DEMAND NOTE FROM JANUARY 1990.
1,
A POLICE SPOKESMAN TODAY (SATURDAY) POINTED OUT THAT A DEMAND NOTE WAS NORMALLY DISPATCHED TO THE MOTORISTS CONCERNED SHORTLY AFTER THE ISSUE OF FIXED PENALTY TICKETS FOR ALLEGED TRAFFIC OFFENCES.
AFTER MAKING THE PAYMENT, SOME MOTORISTS HAVE INADVERTENTLY USED THE DEMAND NOTE AS A MEANS OF LODGING COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE HANDLING OF THE TRAFFIC OFFENCES, THUS STRAINED THE MANPOWER OF THE PROSECUTION UNIT.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEW DEMAND NOTE ΤΟ RE USED FROM JANUARY 1 WOULD CLEARLY SPELL OUT THAT THE PIN-HOLED PORTION OF THE NOTE WAS TO BE USED ONLY WHEN THE MOTORISTS WANTED ΤΟ DISPUTE ALLEGED OFFENCE BEFORE A MAGISTRATE.
"MOTORISTS, AFTER RECEIVING THE DEMAND NOTE, COULD EITHER THE PENALTY FINE AS INSTRUCTED ON THE NOTE IF HE HAS NOT PAID UP RETURN THE PIN-HOLED PORTION TO THE TRAFFIC POLICE IF THEY INTEND CONTEND THE CASE BEFORE A MAGISTRATE," HE SAID.
THE
PAY
OR TO
IN THE EVENT THAT A MOTORIST WANTS TO LODGE A COMPLAINT, THEY COULD EITHER TAKE THE CASE TO THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE OFFICE
(CAPO) OR WRITE TO THE CENTRAL TRAFFIC PROSECUTION UNIT DIRECT.
"MOTORISTS COULD SIMPLY IGNORE THE DEMAND NOTE IF HE HAS PAID THE FINE," HE SAID.
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DUE TO MISUNDERSTANDINGS UPON RECEIVING THE DEMAND NOTE NEARLY 4,200 PEOPLE HAD PAID TWICK THEIR FIXED PENALTY FINE IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, HE ADDED.
'THE CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF DOUBLE-PAYMENTS HAS NOT ONLY CAUSED INCONVENIENCE ON THE PART OF MOTORISTS AS REFUND
WILL NORMALLY TAKE QUITE A WHILE, IT ALSO CREATES TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF UNNECESSARY WORKS FOR VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED.
"THIS IS IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE POLICE'S CENTRAL TRAFFIC PROSECUTION UNIT HAS TO DEAL WITH OVER 40,000 PIXKD PENALTY TICKETS ON AN AVERAGE MONTH UNDER THE FIXED PENALTY ORDINANCE,' THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
·
(CRIMINAL
PROCEEDINGS)
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