Features

 News Desk
 News Briefs
 News Summaries
 Columnists
 Sports
 Editorial
 Arctic arts
 Readers comment
 Find a job
 Tenders
 Classifieds
 Subscriptions
 Market reports
 Northern mining
 Oil & Gas
 Handy Links
 Construction (PDF)
 Opportunities North
 Best of Bush
 Tourism guides
 Obituaries
 Feature Issues
 Advertising
 Contacts
 Archives
 Today's weather
 Leave a message


NNSL Photo/Graphic

NNSL Logo .
Home page text size buttonsbigger textsmall text Text size Email this articleE-mail this page

Speeding fines going up

Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Monday, October 27, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Department of Transportation has increased penalties and fines on driving infractions in the territory.

As of Oct. 1, fines for speeding through a school or construction zone have doubled, according to Earl Blacklock, manager of public affairs with the department. Fines vary according to speed.

Fines for drivers caught behind the wheel without a valid licence will triple increasing to $300 from $100.

"It's not a penalty for forgetting your licence, it's for not having a valid license," Blacklock said.

The steepest fine is aimed at drivers on the road who do not have insurance, with an increase to $1,700 from $500 plus a victim surcharge that adds up to $1,955.

Blacklock said it took roughly a month to get the new fines in place.

"The final recommendation went to the minister in September," he said, adding fines were increased to ensure the punishment fits the crime.

"Whenever we review our legislation we want to make sure we are accomplishing what we want," he said. "We had to consider what the appropriate penalty should be."