18
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1993
INCREASE IN FIXED PENALTY APPROVED
PASSED A RESOLUTION THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY}
THE UNDER THE FIXED PENALTY (CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS) ORDINANCE TO RAISE
VEHICLE FROM FIXED PENALTY FOR DRIVING OR USING AN OVERLOADED GOODS $450 TO $1,000.
MOVING THE RESOLUTION, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR BARMA, SAID OVERLOADED GOODS VEHICLES POSED A REAL ROAD SAFETY AND CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ROAD SURFACES.
HAIDER
HAZARD
HE SAID THE EXISTING FIXED PENALTY, WHICH WAS SET IN JULY 1989, THE NO LONGER HAD A DETERRENT EFFECT SINCE IT WAS MUCH CHEAPER TO PAY FROM ADDITIONAL TRIPS FINE THAN TO MEET THE EXTRA COST ARISING FREIGHT CHARGES THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BECOME NECESSARY.
AND
"INDEED, SOME DRIVERS AND HAULAGE OPERATORS FIXED PENALTY AS A MERE AND MINOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSE,
NOW REGARD
THE
*
HE SAID.
MR BARMA SAID THE AMENDED PENALTY WAS PART OF APPROACH IN TACKLING THE PROBLEM.
A TWO-PRONGED
1992
A
INCLUDED
FOR THE
THE ROAD
(AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL TRAFFIC PROVISION TO MAKE OWNERS OF GOODS VEHICLES STRICTLY LIABLE OVERLOADING OF THEIR VEHICLES, HE ADDED.
THIS WAS ALSO TO BE CONSIDERED BY MEMBERS AT TODAY'S SITTING.
1 WITNESSES ALLOWANCES RAISED
*
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JEREMY MATHEWS, MOVED TWO RESOLUTIONS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO BRING INTO EFFECT NEW RATES OF WITNESSES' ALLOWANCES IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS CORONERS' COURTS.
AND
A
MOVING THE RESOLUTION ON THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (WITNESSES' ALLOWANCES) (AMENDMENT) RULES 1993, MR JEREMY SAID THE EXISTING RATES,
OF WHICH WERE $90 AND $200 FOR EACH DAY AND $45 AND $100 FOR PART DAY FOR AN ORDINARY WITNESS AND A PROFESSIONAL OR AN EXPERT WITNESS RESPECTIVELY, WERE LAST REVIEWED IN 1983 AND WERE NOW OUTDATED.
DURING THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING ON OCTOBER 15 THIS MEMBERS APPROVED THE PROPOSAL THAT THE MAXIMUM ALLOWANCE PAYABLE TO AN PART ORDINARY WITNESS BE INCREASED TO $240 FOR FACH DAY, OR $120 FOR OF A DAY, AND THAT THE MAXIMUM ALLOWANCE PAYABLE TO A PROFESSIONAL TO AN EXPERT WITNESS BE INCREASED TO $1,400 FOR EACH DAY, OR $700 PART OF A DAY.
YEAR,
OR
FOR
/"THE INCREASES