ACT Greens push for introduction of 'fair fines'

Canberrans would be able to pay off fines for littering and fare evasion by completing community work, under a new ACT Greens proposal.

ACT Greens' Caroline Le Couteur, who is pushing for the introduction of a 'fair fine' system. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

Offenders would also be able to pay off their fines in installments, or, in certain circumstances, have them waived entirely.

Greens crossbencher Caroline Le Couteur will introduce a bill to the ACT Legislative Assembly on Wednesday to create a so-called "fair fines" system, which she said could help "avoid entrenching poverty in our city, while enforcing our laws and still changing behaviour".

Canberrans can already use payments plans and community work to help pay off traffic and parking infringements, under a scheme championed by former Greens MLA Amanda Bresnan.

Ms Le Couteur wants those payment options available to people fined for littering, fare evasion and not picking up dog poo.

It follows the introduction of the government's tough new anti-litter laws, which raised the fine for dropping a cigarette or syringe in public to $500. Fines for throwing away items such as lolly wrappers or chip packets have increased to $150 under the new regime.

Under the proposal to be presented on Wednesday, bus or light rail passengers caught fare evading could also apply to have their fines waived if the offence was caused by simply not "tapping on" before boarding.

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First-time offenders could also be let off the hook.

Ms Le Couteur said the current system disproportionately affected low-income earners.

"For those people on low incomes who do pay a fine, this will almost certainly mean sacrificing spending on something else," she said.

"In not paying, they risk prosecution."

Ms Le Couteur said the flexible payment scheme for traffic and parking fines had helped vulnerable Canberrans "avoid falling into a spiral of poverty".

The Greens last year pushed for an even more drastic change, calling on the government to consider the merits of linking the size of a traffic and parking fine to an offenders income.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr dismissed the idea as "not practical or feasible".