A basic principle that underlies the administration of fines and penalties is that there should be a proportionality between the offence and the fine or penalty. This helps preserve faith in the administration of justice. The fine for fare evasion on the Toronto Transit Commission is $195 ($235 once the other fees are added) and can rise over $400. The offence represents a loss of $3.25. In comparison, the offence for parking in a parking machine space without paying, or exceeding the time limit is $30. While the basis of each fine cannot be directly compared, the difference in fines between transit riders and drivers is quite stark and gives rise to a question of whether these fine amounts achieve the underlying objectives as part of the overall administration of justice. Ensuring that requested fine amounts are reviewed and reconsidered periodically would help restore confidence that the City is treating people fairly.
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