Government gets tough...

[blackdog]

...on unpaid fines.

Sounds like a tui ad.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10700136

[Scuba_Steve]

so how are they going to send companies & overseas people to jail or take their licences? And I know a lot of people with these large fines are there in part for not having a licence.

Oh well if this does go through looks like I could be cruising round licence free as I refuse to pay scams.

[kinger]

Sounds fair to me! Even better if they seize vehicles and crush if not paid, might get a few bass pumping scoobies off my bloody road!

[Mully]

So you don't pay your tickets for not having a licence, they, umm, take your licence.

Nice idea - be interested to see if they actually follow through.

I don't think you can keep increasing the jail population though - maybe Home Detention would be the go.

[Genestho]

So you don't pay your tickets for not having a licence, they, umm, take your licence.

Nice idea - be interested to see if they actually follow through.

I don't think you can keep increasing the jail population though - maybe Home Detention would be the go.

There's got to be a better way though Shirley. Clairly they primarily want the debts repaid.

Why can't they set up a fine reparation database - a similar system as done for child maintenance payments through IRD?

Stop allowing voluntary payments, take a % out of the pay packet based on an earnings scale before it hits the pocket!?

Surely any other way wouldn't be as cost effective..too simple?

[Mully]

There's got to be a better way though Shirley. Clairly they want the debts repaid.

Why can't they set up a fine reparation database - a similar system as done for child maintenance payments through IRD?

Stop allowing voluntary payments, take a % out of the pay packet based on an earnings scale before it hits the pocket!?

Surely any other way wouldn't be as cost effective..too simple?

Don't call me Shirley.

How many of those people have jobs, though?

I like the idea of taking the licence. Then forbidding to drive. Then crushing the car. Then Home detention/PD to work it off.

We have enough of a prison population IMHO

[Genestho]

Don't call me Shirley.

How many of those people have jobs, though?

I like the idea of taking the licence. Then forbidding to drive. Then crushing the car. Then Home detention/PD to work it off.

We have enough of a prison population IMHO

LOL!!
I agree with you on the prison population et al comments - although I thought in part some of this was already available to work off fines.
Crushing cars? Yeah, if they're dungers, auction the rest though, seems such a waste!! Although they'd probably get brought back anyway.

Thanks to our friend Google...Looks like there is a way to order compulsary payments on benefits and wages..

EDIT: "The Court can take money directly from your wages or benefit (attachment order), or bank account (deduction notice) for the payment of overdue fines. Your employer, Work and Income or bank is legally obliged to make these deductions. Only the Court can stop these."

Wonder how they'll go about netting people like the 1.8 million dollar guy in Aus.

[rastuscat]

Harumph.

Fines are supposed to be a deterrent. They work for the people who are likely to pay them.

Those folks who don't give a big rats **se aren't deterred by fines. For those special individuals, there needs to be an alternative punitive regime, featuring something that actually deters them.

Maybe the licence ban will work, but lets face it, lots get disqualified and drive anyway. Take the vehicle away, but that means that some innocent person will have their car taken away coz they loaned it to their disqualified mate.

Jail? Too much for someone who doesn't pay one fine, but to anyone with a grand or two they don't pay, a week in the pokey might work.

Point is, the deterrent needs to match the circumstances of the individual, and fines aren't very good at that.

[bogan]

Bring back public stocks in the town square? Maybe modern it up a bit and just go with a glass room instead.

[steve_t]

Bring back public stocks in the town square? Maybe modern it up a bit and just go with a glass room instead.

How do you throw rotting tomatoes and lettuces at someone in a glass room?

[bogan]

How do you throw rotting tomatoes and lettuces at someone in a glass room?

modern it up some more, few spud gun barrel sized holes in the walls should do the trick

[Owl]

Point is, the deterrent needs to match the circumstances of the individual, and fines aren't very good at that.

Very true!

While I pay my fines, they don't honestly work as a deterrent, as I can afford them. Demerits on the other hand work very well for me and I tend to pull my head in. The prospect of losing my licence................I have no intention of going there!

[rwh]

Sounds fair to me! Even better if they seize vehicles and crush if not paid, might get a few bass pumping scoobies off my bloody road!

Definitely not a fan of crushing. It might belong to someone else; it might be security for a loan (the lender loses); and it's simply a waste of a vehicle.

Stop allowing voluntary payments, take a % out of the pay packet based on an earnings scale before it hits the pocket!?

Possibly too invisible - you don't notice the loss of money so much if you never had it.

Wonder how they'll go about netting people like the 1.8 million dollar guy in Aus.

Need to set up an agreement similar to extradition treaties, so the Aussie tax folks can do the deduction on behalf (or just extradite him).

Harumph.

Fines are supposed to be a deterrent. They work for the people who are likely to pay them.

Those folks who don't give a big rats **se aren't deterred by fines. For those special individuals, there needs to be an alternative punitive regime, featuring something that actually deters them.

Maybe the licence ban will work, but lets face it, lots get disqualified and drive anyway. Take the vehicle away, but that means that some innocent person will have their car taken away coz they loaned it to their disqualified mate.

Jail? Too much for someone who doesn't pay one fine, but to anyone with a grand or two they don't pay, a week in the pokey might work.

Point is, the deterrent needs to match the circumstances of the individual, and fines aren't very good at that.

Agree with all of that I think. I like the idea of the very short jail terms, particularly for newbie crims. With long terms it just seems to become a way of life.

Bring back public stocks in the town square? Maybe modern it up a bit and just go with a glass room instead.

Do you consider the inability to hit them with rotten tomatoes to be a good or a bad thing?

Richard

[rwh]

Definitely not a fan of crushing. ... it might be security for a loan (the lender loses)

Actually maybe that's not such a bad thing. If the lender is threatened, they can just call in the loan (reposess the car) before they lose it - get the idiots off the road even sooner. Or the lenders might just be more reluctant to lend to risky candidates in the first place.

Richard

[FJRider]

Actually maybe that's not such a bad thing. If the lender is threatened, they can just call in the loan (reposess the car) before they lose it - get the idiots off the road even sooner. Or the lenders might just be more reluctant to lend to risky candidates in the first place.

Richard

The lenders don't give a shit about the cars ... if the car is crushed ... the repayments expected/due on it will still continue.

The borrowers credit rating may mean higher interest rates on the next loan ...