Pay your fine

Fine Enforcement

Introduction

On 10 March 2008, new arrangements for the collection and enforcement of fines including Sheriff Court Fines, Justice of the Peace Court* Fines, Fiscal Fines and Police Fixed Penalty Notices will be introduced and will be administered by the Scottish Court Service (SCS).

The Legislation and Fines Enforcement Officers

The Criminal Proceedings Etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 provides for reforms to the collection of fines including the introduction of the fines enforcement officer (FEO) who will manage the enforcement of fines in future. They will support those who are willing to pay but will use smart enforcement powers to tackle those who can pay but refuse to do so. Importantly, the FEO will advise offenders who are genuinely having difficulties in paying their fines

FEO powers include:
  • power to arrest earnings and funds in bank accounts;
  • power to make a request to court for a deduction to be made from the offender's benefits;
  • power to make a seizure order in respect of a vehicle belonging to the offender. The vehicle could ultimately be sold to discharge the outstanding fine (although that would require an order of the court); and
  • power to send the case back to court for further consideration if none of these options work.

The introduction of FEOs will allow greater administrative enforcement of outstanding fines with less recourse back to court - with the safeguard that an offender can ask for a court review of how the FEO has handled their case if they believe they have been treated unfairly. This is expected to save court time and time spent by the police in enforcing means warrants. It should lead to a reduction in the number of people imprisoned for fine default.

When recruitment is complete there will be 31 fines enforcement officers in post in Scotland.

New payment arrangements

SCS is arranging additional fine payment methods which include the ability to make payments online, by payment card and by standing orders. These options will be piloted before introduction nationally this year. SCS has already introduced the ability to pay fines by credit card.

About fines

The fine is a widely used penalty that accounts for around 60% of all court disposals. For the majority of offences heard in the Sheriff and District court the imposition of a fine is an option available to the judiciary.

An example of fines set by Court would include a wide range of offences such as motor vehicle offences, breach of the peace and drunkenness.

Around 80% of fines are currently collected.

Further information

You can contact your local fines enforcement officer.

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