41.   Japanese banks will face stiffer penalties starting in April if they fail to meet international capital-to-asset ratios.

42.   Landlords complained that current laws protecting tenants are already drastically skewed against them and threatening even stiffer penalties in harassment cases was unfair.

43.   Last month the U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation that would impose new restrictions on sweepstakes companies as well as stiffer penalties for fraudulent mailings.

44.   Local prosecutors said they would like to see new laws that impose stiffer penalties on white-collar criminals based on the number of victims or the amount of money stolen.

45.   Minors also face penalties for possessing alcohol, and there are stiffer penalties for those who make liquor available to unsupervised youths.

46.   On another topic, the governor on Monday proposed stiffer penalties for parents convicted of repeatedly failing to make child-support payments.

47.   Pataki wants stiffer penalties for more serious drug offenders, and some legislators want more funding for treatment centers.

48.   Police and prosecutors strictly enforce federal gun laws, which carry stiffer penalties than state offenses.

49.   Pointing to inconsistencies in the laws for such offenses, Vacco has proposed stiffer penalties for drug diversion.

50.   Prosecutors sought a stiffer penalty because of the loss to Stern.