Tony Ryall National Police Spokesman
17 February 2004
Another fines gimmick from Government
The Government should be doing more to collect the $500 million dollars owed in outstanding fines, says National's
Police spokesman Tony Ryall.
He is commenting on a Government advertising campaign launched today targeting young male fine defaulters.
"A couple of weeks of billboards on buses is nothing more than a costly gimmick," says Mr Ryall. "It misses two-thirds
of the offenders and people without cars!
"Defaulters know the Government isn't serious when thousands of dollars worth of fines can be replaced with a few hours
of community work. Last year a North Island woman had $36,000 in fines wiped in return for 250 hours of community work.
Mr Ryall is also calling for a greater use of attachment orders (automatic deductions) on wages and benefits, and the
seizure of assets to pay back these debts.
"If the Government was serious about fine defaulters it would be accelerating proposed government department
information-sharing legislation which would make it easier find defaulters.
"I suspect this latest move is a response to National's strong summer campaign highlighting the half billion of
outstanding fines," said Mr Ryall.
Ends