AMENDMENTS TO CUT POLICE PAPERWORK, STREAMLINE WARRANT APPLICATIONS

The Government of Saskatchewan today introduced legislative amendments that will cut the paperwork for police issuing tickets and make it easier for police to apply for a warrant, particularly in remote areas.

The Summary Offences Procedure Amendment Act, 2011 authorizes the use of an electronic ticketing system and increases the limit on jail terms for unpaid fines from 90 days to two years less a day. This Bill also grants judges the discretion to enter a default conviction when a defendant fails to appear for trial, regardless of whether that defendant earlier confirmed an appearance.

"This Bill is part of a larger effort to streamline our provincial justice system and hold people accountable for their actions," Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said. "It is also a great example of how Saskatchewan can use new technology to decrease the amount of paperwork expected from police so they are able to spend more time on the streets."

The current process for handling summary offences includes handwritten tickets and involves a number of steps. Electronic ticketing systems have been successfully adopted by other Canadian police services.

The Bill also includes amendments that will allow peace officers to apply for warrants and have them issued over the phone. This will speed up the process for obtaining warrants, particularly in rural and northern areas where the distance between communities presents a challenge. In the past, peace officers had to appear before a Justice of the Peace to get a warrant.

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For more information, contact:

Noel Busse
Justice and Attorney General
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8959
Email: noel.busse@gov.sk.ca