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A crackdown on jury service dodgers is in the pipeline, with fines for people who do not show expected to rocket to as much as $1,000.
Changes are being worked through by the Justice Ministry. It is thought the department will suggest no increase to the allowance it pays people who do turn up.
That is currently as little as $31 dollars a day.peCourt registrars also have discretion to pay a higher allowance in cases where a person is losing out significantly.
Last year more than 350,000 people were summoned for jury service, and 74,000 of them simply ignored the call.
Justice Minister Rick Barker says most people are happy to do their bit, but people can be excused if they have a good reason. However, employers believe the threat of a big fine is the wrong way to go about getting more people to show up for jury service.
EMA Advisory Services manager David Lowe says while people want to do their civic duty, they do not want to be out of pocket. He says you can not blame people for not turning up if being chosen to serve means they can not pay their bills.
- NEWSTALK ZB
