Online payments reaching nearly £5 million over the past year are helping to ensure fines collection rates remain strong.
More people are taking advantage of the quick and easy option of paying fines on the Scottish Court Service website which has seen online payments soar to £4.85 million during the 12 months from November, 2013 to October, this year.
A report published today shows that 85% of the value of sheriff court fines imposed between April, 2011 and March, 2014, has either been paid or is on track to be paid through instalments.
The SCS has a range of powers in place to pursue outstanding fines. Those who can, but don’t pay, could see their bank or employer approached to have money deducted from their accounts or wages. Payment can also be taken directly from benefits.
And motorists who fail to pay their fines can see their cars seized. One Drumchapel woman found her Skoda clamped after failing to pay a fine for not meeting vehicle insurance requirements. She had neglected to pay a £150 fine issued at Glasgow Justice of the Peace Court despite receiving a warning letter. To reclaim her vehicle, the taxi driver wound up paying clamping costs in addition to the original fine. If she had not, her car would have been taken into storage with additional fees mounting up each day. Ultimately an unclaimed car can be scrapped or sold.
All defaulters are issued warnings before action is taken and those in genuine financial difficulty can engage with enforcement officers to discuss payment plans.
Chief Operations Officer Cliff Binning warns: "If you have an outstanding fine, we urge you to catch up with your payments now. If you don’t, you could be the next person to see your car clamped or have your bank or employee approached to have money deducted directly from your wages or savings. It just isn’t worth it.”
Most fines can be paid on our secure website at www.scotcourts.gov.uk/payyourfine using a debit or credit card. 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.
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