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The New Brunswick government is going to start imposing administrative penalties instead of fines for violations under the Tobacco Tax Act and the Gasoline and Motive Fuel Tax Act.
The legislation, introduced by Finance Minister Blaine Higgs on Tuesday, is designed to improve compliance without adding more strain on the court system.
As it stands, fewer than 60 per cent of fines issued by the Department of Finance are paid, Higgs said in a statement.
Charges must then be filed through the court system at a high cost to both the defendant and the department, he said.
Administrative penalties provide more of a deterrent, said Higgs.
Although the amounts charged will be the same as the fines, "failing to pay an administrative penalty could result in the licence or permit being revoked," he said.
"As we work to rebuild our province's finances, this initiative will also result in increased efficiencies and will allow auditors and other staff to do more productive work.”
The majority of tobacco licence holders, fuel licence holders and IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) carriers already comply with the legislated requirements of their respective licences and permits, Higgs noted.
They will be unaffected by the changes, he said.
