Courts / Council Partnership Encourages Being Fine Free!

Manukau City Council and the Manukau District Court Collections Unit are working together in the community to encourage people to pay their fines.

The joint community education campaign will kick-off at the Otara flea market on Saturday 30 March 2002. Council’s parking staff and Court’s collections staff will be handing out information material, Easter eggs and balloons.

Environmental Health and Compliance Manager, Kevin Jackson, says it makes sense to work together because the benefits extend to both organisations and to the people that incur fines.

“We’d prefer people to pay their fines directly to us within the statutory 56 day period rather than waiting for them to be lodged with the Courts. We save on paying filing fees, Courts’ staff won’t incur administrative time and cost and the person that has a fine won’t need to pay the extra Court costs.

That’s a cost saving to Council of $30 on each overdue ticket for lodgement fees, and people save on added Court costs of $35 as well as possibly another $100 if the fine has to be enforced,” said Mr Jackson.

Mr Jackson says the main reason people delay payment to the Council is because of the time payment option available through the Court.

“Time payment certainly helps those that are struggling financially. We’re currently investigating the same ‘time to pay’ options within Council so it’s easier for people to pay fines directly to us. This not only works well for us and Courts, but benefits our community as well,” said Mr Jackson.

By working together, Courts and the Council can provide better information for the local community about how to pay fines, the importance of being “fine free” and how staff from both organisations can assist people with the options available.

“Both organisations want to be accessible to the community so that people can feel comfortable about approaching us regarding their fines,” said Mr Jackson.

This Easter weekend is the starting point for a range of community activities over the next six months that will encourage people to become ‘fine free’.

Ends

© Scoop Media