The money raised by New York’s scotians accused of breaking the burning tray of the province does not reach more than $ 1 million in delivered tickets, but a criminologist is still encouraged by the numbers, saying that they suggest that the threat of a considerable fine is working in favor of the government.
Until now, the province has raised only $ 118,869, around 12 percent, of the $ 1,010,537 in fines and rates issued by illegal burns for two and a half years.
The figures provided by the Provincial Justice Department show 35 Summary Crime Tickets worth $ 25,000 were issued between 2023 and July 30, and 16 of those that result in convictions. A victim and HST surcharge apply to the fine, which carries the total to $ 28,872.50.
Michael Boudreau, professor of criminology at the University of St. Thomas in Fredericton, said he believes that the province is doing a “quite good work” collecting fines.
“It is not necessarily easy, especially when the fine is so great,” Boudreau said in a recent interview.
The figures of the Department of Justice do not include tickets issued by violations related to the prohibition of entering forest areas, which entered into force on August 5 and since then it has risen in some regions.
The fine of $ 25,000 for illegal burning was imposed for the first time through proclamation in 2023, since two forest fires destroyed Shelburne and Halifax counties, destroying more than 200 structures. Once again, it was temporarily imposed through the proclamation last year and became permanent in May.
But the fact that someone receives a ticket does not necessarily mean that you will have to pay it. The person has a series of options on how to proceed, including the payment of the ticket in advance or challenging it in the Court, according to the information provided by the public prosecution service of the province.
Nueva Scotia made its fine of $ 25,000 permanent for violating fire restrictions, already beginning of this summer, imposed the same fine for entering the forest. But what happens after someone receives one of these summarized offensive tickets? Aly Thomson of the CBC explains.
Boudreau warned that simply ignoring the ticket is not a good idea.
“That is a fairly naive approach because if you don’t pay the fine and if you don’t challenge it in court, you could be arrested,” he said.
“Or pay the fine, try to challenge it in the Court or do nothing and then wait for the courts to issue a arrest warrant for you or possibly start worshiping your salaries.”
He feels that the number of tickets issued year after year is low and suggests that people are paying attention.
“The law in general is not a very good deterrence because if so, we would not have any crime,” he said.
“But when it comes to financial matters, many people take it into account, even if they don’t care what is the problem that is being prohibited.”
Although the provincial government provided the figures, an interview application was rejected.
Wayne Mackay, Professor Emeritus at the Schulich Law Faculty at the University of Dalhouse, said new Scotland should be more transparent about the gap between convictions and fines collected, and what they are doing to enforce the collection of fines.
“You want to have sufficiently significant fines for people to realize, although fair, but also the application,” Mackay said.
“People learn quite fast if the fine is not likely to apply to not necessarily have to take it so seriously.”
Mackay said that another problem in the province must be aware are the possible challenges of the law.
“While they certainly have the right to this type of matter to evaluate a fine, it must be proportional to the crime,” he said.
Last month, a man from Cape Breton deliberately violated the prohibition of the province Upon entering the forest to receive a fine and challenge it in court.
Jeff Evely will join the foundation of the Canadian Constitution in the judicial challenge in the Supreme Court of Nueva Scotia, which has been established for February 2026.
The daily burns of daily burns are normally in force between March 15 and October 15, however, the dry conditions of this year have caused a prohibition throughout the province to burn until October 15 or until the conditions improve.
- Do you have questions about forest fires, smoke or air quality? Ask us by sending an email to ask@cbc.ca.
Here are the number of tickets, convictions and amounts collected by fire restriction violations in the last two and a half years:
- In 2023, 16 tickets were issued worth $ 28,872.50, which resulted in nine sentences. The amount collected was $ 89,090.
- In 2024, 11 tickets were issued worth $ 28,872.50, which resulted in five sentences. The amount collected was $ 906.
- Until July 30 of this year, eight tickets were issued worth $ 28,872.50, which resulted in two sentences. So far a total of $ 28,873 has been collected.
