Minister has no qualms grounding fine-dodgers

Courts Minister Rick Barker says he would have no qualms about stopping a big fine-dodger from travelling overseas to his or her mother's funeral.

Mr Barker was talking tough at the launch of a campaign yesterday to stop people who owe large court fines and reparation to crime victims from travelling overseas.

From now on, anyone with an arrest warrant against their name for more than $5000 in unpaid courts fines, or any unpaid court-ordered reparation, will be stopped if they try to leave.

If they do not pay up on the spot, they cannot fly. The threshold for being stopped will drop over time.

"People have raised with me, on a couple of occasions, the issue of someone who might be heading across overseas for a funeral or some family emergency or so on, and why should they be stopped at the border," Mr Barker said.

"Well, I have this point about that: these people ... have made no attempt to pay this money over a significant period of time, to the extent that the court has got so frustrated it has issued a warrant for their arrest. I think the balance of concern rests with the victims of the crime."

Asked if a fine-dodger would be stopped travelling to attend their mother's funeral, Mr Barker said: "If they owe money, and they have dodged the victim - my sympathy is with the individual about their mother's funeral - but I would say this to them: they have had months to sort out the reparation to a victim of crime and their obligation is to them first.

"If you are so concerned to get to your mother's funeral, then I am quite sure your family and friends and bank manager will help you out with it."

Barry Wilson, president of the Auckland Council for Civil Liberties, questioned whether Mr Barker had lost his sense of compassion.

"If you had a return ticket that would bring you back within 30 days, it would be perfectly reasonable to go to a family emergency or funeral," Mr Wilson said.

"If a person has family ties, they are going to come back."

Mr Barker said one New Zealander living in Australia owed court-imposed fines of $1.6 million. Authorities knew where he was but could not do anything unless he returned to New Zealand.

"Without the system we would have no way of dealing with that individual in the future. There are a number of people who it is well-known have decided because of the reparation they owe can't be bothered paying and just decide to take the easy way out and head to Australia to work."

Customs will be alerted by computer when the traveller tries to go through and police will then step in.

Mr Wilson also raised concern about the potential for mistakes at the border that could prevent innocent travellers from catching their flights.

But Mr Barker said any situation of mistaken identity could be clarified at the border.

"I'm sure if there is a very, very genuine matter of doubt, then we will err on the side of the doubt."