The Fines Enforcement Team for Grampian, Highland & Islands have already clamped three vehicles in Inverness in the past week.
The three Inverness motorists, who failed to pay a string of Police ticket fines, had their cars clamped for non-payment and to reclaim their vehicles had to pay the outstanding fines in addition to the contractor’s fees.
Once a car has been clamped the owner has 24 hours to pay their fine failing that the vehicle will be taken into storage. If unclaimed, the owner will mount up further costs in addition to the outstanding fine. The Scottish Court Service (SCS) can also apply to have the vehicle sold to pay off the fine.
“If you are a driver with an outstanding fine in the Inverness area then you face having your car clamped, seized and eventually sold,” says SCS Executive Director Cliff Binning. “We pursue all outstanding fines, from a parking matter to court penalties, and will use all the enforcement measures in place to ensure payment.
“It doesn’t pay to ignore your fine, it won’t just go away. If you are working you may find your employers have been contacted and money taken directly from your wages or payment directly deducted from your benefits.”
The Fines Enforcement Team is now targeting a number of other vehicles belonging to fine defaulters in the area.
Clamping cars is just one way the SCS can enforce payment. Other measures include arresting wages, freezing bank accounts, deducting benefits and targeting persistent non-payers. The courts can also issue warrants for arrest and fine defaulters have had their holiday plans ruined after being stopped at British airports.
A recent report shows that, overall, fines collection is at its highest rate ever in Scotland.
The figures show 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. Almost 8300 transactions totalling £360,000 were made through this site in August, with online payments reaching £1.8 million during the 2011-12 financial year.
Most fines, including parking or police tickets, can be paid on the secure website at pay your fine. 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.
Notes:
A copy of the most recent SCS quarterly fines report issued on 30 August is available at: http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/courtsadmin/finestats/qfr13_2012/fines.doc