Forty-five cars have been targeted nationwide during the past two months. “Clamping and seizing cars is an effective way to collect unpaid fines,” says SCS Executive Director Cliff Binning. “If you have failed to pay a fine, whether it’s for a simple parking ticket or a more substantial court fine, you could have your car clamped, taken into storage and either sold or scrapped.
“Our fine collection staff are working across Scotland to ensure all penalties are paid and we are making full use of the enforcement measures in place.”
In addition to clamping cars, the SCS can approach employers to deduct money from wages; contact banks to freeze savings or collect payment directly from benefits.
The fines, which ranged from £45 to more than £1000, were imposed for a variety of offences including not having a TV licence, traffic violations and vandalism; while the offenders have included an electrician, landscape gardener and oil industry designer.
Once a car is clamped, the owner has 24 hours to reclaim it by paying the original fine in addition to contractor’s fees. Otherwise the car is taken into storage where costs continue to mount up. One unclaimed car in Glasgow was sold last month when the owner failed to make payment.
Offenders are made fully aware of their responsibility to maintain payments, and of the sanctions that can be imposed. Those experiencing genuine difficulty are given the opportunity to contact enforcement officers who will provide advice and assistance to help get their payments back on track.
A recent report shows that, overall, fines collection is at its highest rate ever in Scotland. The figures reveal that 90% of the value of sheriff court fines imposed over a three year period from 2008 to 2011 has either been paid or is on track to be paid through instalments.
Since 2008, more than 430,000 enforcement orders have been granted by the courts and more than 94,000 of these have been for deductions from benefits. Online facilities also enable most fines to be paid round the clock. More than 9600 transactions totalling £408,000 were made through this site last month with online payments reaching £1.8 million during the 2011-12 financial year.
Most fines, including parking or police tickets, can be paid online. Only fines which involve the endorsement of a driving licence with penalty points cannot be paid electronically including some police traffic tickets and penalties issued by the Safety Camera Partnerships for speeding or running a red light. In these instances offenders can post their licence to: Scottish Court Service, Central Processing Unit, PO Box 23, Glasgow, G59 9DA or take it in person to any Scottish court.
ENDS
Access a copy of the most recent SCS quarterly fines report issued on 30 August 2012.