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Fire fines not enough: reader

Harsher fines should be implemented for carelessly discarding of cigarettes, says letter writer.

To the Editor,

I got a ticket for a rolling stop at a red light, right hand turn, which I deserved. The fine was $167, less $25 if paid within 30 days. I just read that the fine for throwing a lit cigarette butt out of a car window or throwing it away while walking will be $173, up to $573 depending on the circumstances.

This is imposed by our government that is trying to get some respect for the environment, and keep all the law breakers in hand.

But wait a minute, it costs upwards of $2,000 plus to throw a piece of paper or any debris out of your car window, or discard it while walking at anytime without using the proper containment; it is called littering and the fine is $2,000 fine. Yet the fine is only $173 for almost burning down possibly hundreds of hectares of forest or land and buildings, and the possible life of a human at hand?

I think their priorities all need reviewing as our forest fire predicament continues. I think $5,000 to $10,000 fines are not unreasonable.

Dave Noble,

Port Alberni