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Because the administration changed the software, no fines or reminders could be sent in the canton of Bern.
What happened? For example, if you are repeatedly caught on the train without a valid ticket, you will be charged and have to pay a fine. Actually. However, software is causing problems for the Bern cantonal administration, especially when it comes to collecting these fines. The consequence of the IT problems: Late payers could not be given a reminder last year and they could not be given a so-called substitute prison sentence. According to the judicial authorities’ activity report, the collection of fines was made much more difficult and in some cases no longer possible.
Why is that important? Anyone who cannot or does not want to pay their fines has to go to prison. But who has already paid their fines? Who needs to be reminded or operated? Who has to go to prison? Because the software is stuck, the canton and the judiciary are lagging behind on these issues. The “Berner Zeitung” quotes the canton as saying that the statute of limitations has already expired “in individual cases”. A number of other minor crimes are at risk of becoming statute-barred – and defaulting payers could go unpunished.
Legend:
Go to jail for fare evasion? Anyone who fails to pay a fine or fine despite reminders and enforcement will receive a short sentence. For every 100 francs fine there is one day in prison.
Keystone/Christian Beutler
What is known about the extent? At the moment, no one knows how many statutes of limitations can be expected in total. But it is clear that time is of the essence. Many prison sentences usually expire after three years. In the canton of Bern, 4,400 short sentences are carried out every year, according to the “Berner Zeitung”. It is important to avoid that even more defaulting payers go unpunished, says André Roggli, President of the Security Commission of the Berne Cantonal Parliament, when asked by SRF. “We must do everything we can to ensure that these punishments are carried out. Otherwise we will lose face. Everyone must be equal before the law.” Anyone who does not comply with the law should be punished accordingly.
Everyone must be equal before the law.
What is the problem? The canton of Bern has moved from its own IT system to a widely used one Finance and accounting system changed. “After the change, we quickly noticed that the new system did not adequately represent certain complex processes,” Bern Finance Director Astrid Bärtschi told SRF. Collecting fines is a very complex process. “Many bodies and offices are involved. For example the judiciary, the tax administration, the bankruptcy office.” According to the finance director, this complexity was underestimated when converting to the new system. Many tasks that were previously automated now have to be carried out manually. That’s why temporary staff were increased.
What’s next? According to Finance Director Astrid Bärtschi, the situation should improve soon. The needs of the departments involved have been identified and the software is being adapted. “The improvements will be put into operation in the next few months.” The canton’s goal is to avoid further statutes of limitations. This also includes increasing the capacity in Bern’s prisons. Because these are full. That’s why the canton wants to set up containers where defaulting payers can serve their short sentences.