OTTAWA — Having completed a four-year review of AMPS penalties, some interesting statistics have emerged, says Canada Border Services Agency.

Penalty volume and dollar amount for 06/07 are currently on pace to end up at similar levels as the last fiscal year.

For the first six months of 06-07, the Quebec region is slightly higher in the number of AMPS issued.

Failure to transport passengers or crew to customs
still one of top AMPS violations, says CBSA

The top five carrier contraventions include: C018 Failure to transport passengers or crew to customs; C033 goods moved, delivered or exported without permission; C358 goods removed from sufferance warehouse without release; C005 person failed to provide true, accurate and complete information; C021 carrier failed to report goods to customs.

In an attempt to improve the AMPS program, CBSA has identified a number of key issues, which will be reviewed by April 2007. They include:

Specific penalties too high: appeals process too long; absolute v/s strict liability — why is it the way it is and can AMPS include elements of both
regimes, where appropriate?

Further issues the agency will try to address are inconsistencies reported between various ports of entry; driver training issues; third party liability is not allowed in today’s regime, even if the third party wants to accept
responsibility for the penalty; and no consideration has been made for volumetrics or administrative errors; and penalty level escalation can occur within a short period of time, without the party having any opportunity to correct the problem.

Also, the need for additional public outreach and education is needed.