Toronto’s auditor general is urging the city to get tough with deadbeat residents and companies who owe taxpayers a staggering $577 million in unpaid provincial offences fines. About two-thirds of people fined for such things as speeding, trespassing, alcohol infractions and violating bylaws voluntarily pay up, Beverly Romeo-Beehler says, but Toronto cannot afford to let the deadbeats off the hook. “Given that the city is faced with constant pressure to find funding for crucial programs and services, it is important that those who owe debts to the city pay them,” the auditor wrote. Her report says the city’s court services division is overlooking ways to get payment from people guilty of things like non-criminal driving offences or violating bylaws that govern animal control, excessive noise and more. Of $577 million from more than two million offences, $421 million is owed to the city, $63 million is to be collected by Toronto on behalf of the province, and $93 million is to pay for collection agencies if the city needs to use them.

Source: thestar May 04, 2018 23:20 UTC