XN000022-1981-12-09 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER }

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MAXIMUM FINES INCREASED

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON PASSED A MOTION TO INCREASE BY FIVE TIMES THE MAXIMUM FINE THAT MAY BE IMPOSED FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE DOGS AND CATS ORDINANCE.

THE MOTION TO INCREASE FIES UNDER THIS ORDINANCE AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH (ANIMALS AND BIRDS) ORDINANCE WAS MOVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, THE HON JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN.

UNDER THE DOGS AND CATS ORDINANCE, THE MAXIMUM FINE THAT MAY BE IMPOSED WAS INCREASED FROM $1 000 TO $5 000 FOR VARIOUS OFFENCES UNDER IT.

THESE OFFENCES INCLUDE THE KEEPING OF AN UNLICENSED DOG OVER THE AGE OF FIVE MONTHS, FAILING TO ENSURE THAT A DOG IS INOCULATED AGAINST RABIES AND TO HAVE IT RE-INOCULATED ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS THERE AFTER, AND FAILING TO REPORT TO THE POLICE AFTER A DOG OR CAT IN ONE'S CONTROL HAS BITTEN ANY PERSON.

UNDER THE SAME ORDINANCE, THE MAXIMUM DAILY FINE THAT MAY BE IMPOSED BY A COURT FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH A MAGISTRATE'S ORDER RELATING TO THE DESTRUCTION OR THE KEEPING UNDER CONTROL OF DANGEROUS DOG WAS INCREASED FROM $50 TO $100.

UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH (ANIMALS AND BIRDS) ORDINANCE, THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR REMOVING ANY ANIMAL OR BIRD WITHIN, INTO OR FROM AN AREA INFECTED BY DISEASE WAS INCREASED FROM $2 000 TO $5 000.

IN MOVING THE TIONS, MR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID THE EXISTING LEVELS OF FINES UNDER THE TWO ORDINANCES ERE STIPULATED IN 1936 AND 1950 AND HAD NOT BEEN REVISED SINCE.

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+ THE OUTBREAK OF RABIES IN 1980, AFTER 25 YEARS OF FREEDOM FROM THIS DISEASE, HIGHLIGHTED THE INADEQUACY OF THE PRESENT LEVEL OF FINES. IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THE PENALTIES FOR BREACH OF THE CURRENT STRINGENT RABIES CONTROL MEASURES SHOULD BE INCREASED TO MAINTAIN THEIR DE TERRENT AND PUNITIVE EFFECT. +

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