Fines And Court Costs.

[Tilly2]

If someone goes to court and is fined and ordered to pay court costs, what happens to that person if they cannot afford the total amount?

The owner of our local dog rescue centre, has been prosecuted for failing to comply with an abatement notice to stop the dogs barking and annoying neighbours.

The fine and costs comes to £18,822 and supporters have set up a crowdfunding page to help her to raise the money.

What will happen to her if the money hasn't been raised by the due date of November 11th?

Will she be given more time to raise the money?

We have had two of our rescue dogs from this centre and know that it will be devastating for all concerned to have to close it down.

[EDDIE51]

She should contact the court and ask for time to pay and explain the reason.

[Tilly2]

So more time to pay could be granted by the court, Eddie?

[EDDIE51]

Also they will normally offer payment in instalments as an option, if the person can not pay all at once. So get her to see how much she could afford to put up as the initial payment and tell them how much it is. They will work out a payment plan. It is far better to get in touch as soon as she knows there is a problem rather than wait until the court date. She will find they are helpful as long as she is upfront about the problem.

[EDDIE51]

Yes, they will always offer time to pay, the last thing they want is to have to send in the bailiffs. Or even worse think about prison for non payment.

[Tilly2]

Eddie, I have had to dogs from her and have attended training and agility classes that she runs. All this information has come from the local newspapers, not from the lady herself.

I am asking the question because I am so upset that the centre might fold. It means a lot to me. I do hope, from what you've said, that she will be allowed time to raise the money.

Thank you for your very clear answer.

[Tilly2]

Two dogs^^

[EDDIE51]

They will definitely offer time to pay but they will also ask what she is doing to solve the problem of noise. They will not want to have to take her back to court if the abatement notice is still not complied with.

[Tilly2]

No, I realise that. It's a difficult situation isn't it?

[EDDIE51]

Yes, and it must have already been going on sometime for it to get to the stage of going to court. She must have had a lot of warnings before they took her to court.

[Tilly2]

The local paper reports...... she had been given a 'series' of notices by the council but had failed to comply with them. :-(

[ummmm]

Is she complying now?

[EDDIE51]

In that case the next stage if she still fails to comply will be prison and that will close the center down! Paying the fine is just a small part of the problem. The main problem is stopping the noise, just paying the fine will not stop the case. The abatement notice will still be in place after the fine is paid.
It would be more sensible to try to 'crowdfund' improvements to the center to stop the noise.

[ummmm]

Eddie - seriously? If they locked up everyone who either buried their head in the sand or couldn't pay a fine they'd have to start letting murderers out!

[Tilly2]

How they are going to get a kennel full of dogs to be quiet, is the ongoing problem.

[EDDIE51]

Ummm Yes seriously, as Tilly says there have been a series of orders none of which have been followed. Now it has gone to court and a fine issued and still it has not been complied with! They only go to court as a last resort if all other ways to get compliance have failed, now the court has failed again to get the nuisance stopped. Prison is now a very real option, this must have been ongoing for years without a solution.
Now just wait for a headline along the lines 'Woman jailed for letting dogs bark!' which will of course be true but only tell a small part of the story!

[Tilly2]

I'll let you know the latest installment when we get The Beds on Sunday, tomorrow.

[EDDIE51]

Tilly the answer is to put up a permanent building with soundproofing, which will of course cost £100,000s. Very expensive but the only solution.
Possibly building a high wall to mask the sound may help but I think a permanent building is the only viable option.
There is a dog sanctuary near me but it is outside a small village with no near neighbours so moving would be the only other option.

[EDDIE51]

^^ It has a 10 ft wall and trees to mask the noise as well as being at least 1/2 a mile from the nearest house!

[Tilly2]

This kennels was out in the sticks, fifteen years ago, but the nearest village has expanded and grown to surround it.

[EDDIE51]

^ Then I would tend to say 'Tough' you knew the kennels was there when you bought the house. But the court obviously does not share my view.
I used to be a bellringer, the church had been well known for its bells since 1120.( The year not the time of day!)
But a new person moved into the old vicarage next to the church and complained about the noise of the bells.He tried to get a noise abatement notice but the court quite rightly told him to ***off !
I am a bit surprised the court did not have the same view in this case.