Customs officials may issue more fines from New Year

OSLO.Customs control vehicles with the new "X-ray vehicle" Hjortneskaia in Oslo.Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB scanpix

From January, customs officials at the country’s borders may print multiple fines, and thus relieve the police, after the Ministry of Finance has expanded the agency’s powers.

Today customs officials can print spot fines for minor seizures of alcohol, cigarettes and meat and for values up to 10,000 kroner.

From New Year’s, seizure amounts will double, which will free up resources, stated the newspaper Dagbladet.

– The Customs Administration, police and prosecution work with less serious cases will be facilitated, while an immediate tactile reaction will have a good deterrent effect on those who smuggle, said Minister of Finance Siv Jensen in a statement.

The doubling will lead to fewer cases being reported and being treated by the police, according to the government.

– It allows the police to release resources to more serious things, while Customs can settle there and then, and without engaging the police and prosecutors, said Roy Steffensen (FRP), member of the Standing Committee on Finance, to Dagbladet.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today