-
Source: Thinkstock
People who refuse to pay outstanding fines will come under greater pressure from February 13.
An advertising campaign screening on television from Sunday highlights the greater consequences for people who refuse to pay fines and reparation.
Courts Minister Chester Borrows says the "Pay your fines, or pay the price" campaign is timed to coincide with the first provisions of the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill coming into force on February 13.
The bill allows the Ministry of Justice to release the amount of a person's overdue penalties to approved credit reporting agencies, and for credit reporting agencies to provide contact details of debtors to the Ministry to use to enforce payment.
"The message in the ad is clear - unpaid fines may stop you from getting the things you want on credit," Borrows said.
The minister said the bill targets people who have no intention of paying up. People who owe money but have talked to the Ministry to make sustainable arrangements for repayment have nothing to be concerned about, Borrows said.
"We've made huge strides in recent years in collecting fines and reparation, but too many offenders think they can avoid paying their fines or making good on reparation to victims of their crimes.
The bill also makes it easier for people or firms who are owed money to obtain attachment orders from the courts allowing mandatory deductions from the wages or benefit payments of their debtors.
Courts will also soon be able to re-sentence an offender to prison or home detention if the reparation they have been ordered to pay proves to be unenforceable or unaffordable.
"It's critical to the credibility of the justice system that
monetary penalties are effective sanctions, so we're sending a
clear message that there will be repercussions for those who don't
honour their responsibilities," said Borrows.
Latest NZ News Video
-
Mother and baby laid to rest (1:36)
-
Kiwi scientists help make history (0:29)
-
NZ scores part in telescope project (1:56)
