fp Turks and Caicos

The details of a further round of government fee increases are being hammered out over the next few weeks that will further increase the cost of living in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The increases include fees for firearms and liquor licenses, marriages, birth and death certificates, passports, recording deeds and post office boxes. Pleasure craft customs fees and fees to operate vessels in national parks will also increase.

Traffic fines will increase across the board to between $200 for offenses such as not wearing a seat belt to $500 for passing a stopped school bus. Both the Advisory Council and the Consultative Forum recommended even higher fines for some offenses, and those are being revised in the coming weeks before approval.

The higher charges are part of the continuing effort by the interim government to increase revenue sources that have not been changed in many years to balance the budget by 2012-13. That is a requirement of the U.K.’s $260 million loan guarantee that is being used to pull the country out of a financial hole.

Other charges that have already gone up include drivers licenses and vehicle licenses, with most increasing 50 percent. Fees for nearly all business license categories were increased by 35-percent, and the minimum license fee doubled from $150 to $300.

New government fees (proposed)
Firearms licences
Revolver    $200
Pistol .25-calibre, .32-calibre, .380-calibre    $200
Semi-automatic pistol 9mm    $400
Automatic pistol 9mm    $800
Semi-automatic pistol .45.calibre    $400
Automatic pistol .45-calibre    $800
12-gauge shotgun standard    $400
Automatic or semi-automatic shot gun    $800
Rifle standard    $400
Automatic or semi-automatic rifle    $800
Liquor licences
Hotel Licence    $550
Guest House Licence    $200
Bar Licence    $270
Wine and Beer Licence    $135
Off Licence    $270
Restaurant Licence    $200
Club Licence    $400
Airport Licence    $400
Occasional Licence    $50
Special Exemption Order    $50
Special Hours Certificate    $270
Music and Dancing Licence    $50
Music and Dancing Licence Extension Order    $50
Wholesaler’s Licence    $700
Marriage
Search marriage register    $40
Certified true copy of entry in marriage register    $40
Registrar’s Certificate    $40
Special marriage licence    $150
Cruise ship passenger    $250
Birth, death certificates
Birth certificate on registration    $20
Late registration of birth    $200
Copy of birth certificate for a child over one year old    $40
Copy of death certificate    $40
Recording deeds
Governor’s apostille    $100
Recording of mortgage debenture on real estate    $100
Recording of other deeds (e.g. Power of Attorney, Chattel
Mortgage, Partnership Agreements)    $100
Search of deeds register    $50
Copy of a deed from the deeds register    $50
Passports
Issue a new passport
   adults    $150
   children    $75
Issue an emergency passport    $150
Amendment of a passport    $25
Replacement of a stolen, lost or damaged passport
   adults    $150
   child    $150
Extensions (5 years)
   Application Fee    $25
   Approval Fee    $50
   Identity Document Fee    $50
Extra fee for expedited passport service (48 hrs)    $100
Post Office fees
Private Box fee per annum (small)    $65
Private Box fee per annum (medium)    $100
Private Box fee per annum (large)    $130
Pleasure Crafts Fees
Customs    $300
Operating vessels in national parks
Non-motorised vessel    $70
Vessel less than 30 ft    $15/ft
Vessel 30-60 ft    $30/ft
Vessel greater than 60 ft    $60/ft
Single user mooring    $270
Other commercial activity    $400

New traffic offense fines (proposed)
Using or permitting to be used on road motor vehicle or trailer for which licence has not been issued or has expired    $200
Driving vehicle at excessive speed
(a) up to 10 miles per hour in excess of speed limit    $350
(b) for every further 10 miles per hour or part thereof    $200
Using or permitting to be used on road a dangerous
vehicle    $200
Failing to conform with indication given by police officer, traffic sign or traffic signal    $200
Parking and obstruction    $250
Loading and overcrowding vehicle    $250
Causing or permitting vehicle to be on road without carrying and exhibiting prescribed lights    $200
Tinting of windows and windscreen    $200
Driving on incorrect side of road    $200
Failing to stop in case of accident    $200
Failing to produce documents    $200
Driving or riding in motor vehicle in contravention of seat belt regulations    $200
Driving a motor vehicle in contravention of seat belt
regulations    $200
Using vehicle without proper identification plate    $200
Holding on to vehicle on road for the purpose of being
towed    $300
Throwing object at vehicle or at a person in vehicle    $500
Throwing object from vehicle while vehicle is in
motion    $500
Missing or defective muffler or silencer    $200
Using vehicle which gives out excessive or obnoxious smoke, fumes, noise or odour    $200
Using horn or other audible warning device excessively or to cause unnecessary discomfort    $200
Using spotlight or flashlight to endanger or dazzle    $300
Obstructing or failing to give way to emergency
vehicle    $500
Failing to give ample clearance to school vehicle    $500
Overtaking school vehicle engaged in setting down or picking up passengers    $500
Leaving vehicle unattended with engine running    $200
Bringing or driving motor vehicle on to beach or other place intended for exclusive use of pedestrians    $500
Parking vehicle on carriageway of road at night without rear lights and, in case of vehicle other than motor cycle, sidelights, illuminated    $200
Causing or permitting vehicle to stand or lie on road or footpath so as to cause unnecessary obstruction or danger    $300
Leaving or permitting vehicle to be left on or in immediate vicinity of road in such a manner and for such length of time as to cause complaint to remove vehicle    $300
Breaching any construction and use regulations    $300
Parking vehicle other than taxi-cab or omnibus in taxi-cab or omnibus rank    $250
Failing to give way to pedestrian using pedestrian
crossing    $500
Parking vehicle within 45 feet of pedestrian crossing    $300
Parking or unloading vehicle upon road in contravention of section 22(d) of the Ordinance 49(1)(t)    $200