A drink driver who failed to pay his court fine has seen his Porsche Cayenne clamped as part of enforcement measures.
The driver was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £520 when he was convicted at a Justice of the Peace Court in September last year.
However, after receiving several requests for payment and a warning letter, he refused to pay up and eventually got a nasty surprise when his car was clamped outside his home.
In the end the driver not only had to pay his fine, but also settle clamping and seizure expenses before his car was released.
Figures published today by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) show continued improvement in collection rates across all fine and penalty types in Quarter 1 2022/23, including in both value and number.
The overall collection performance reflects continuing and targeted action by Fines Enforcement Officers. However, SCTS recognises that individuals face the very real risk of suffering significant financial hardship at this time and continues to provide information, advice and support to those who are struggling to maintain their payments.
SCTS Executive Director of Court Operations David Fraser said: “The latest figures continue to show welcome progress as we recover from the effects of the pandemic, with fine collection rates rising across the board.
“We continue to recognise that the current economic climate may impact on people’s ability to pay fines and urge anyone who is struggling to pay to get in touch with us so we can provide advice.
“However, just ignoring fines and doing nothing is not an option. We will employ robust sanctions against offenders who we are satisfied have failed to pay without a reasonable excuse.
“As we have seen in this case, this can involve cars being clamped and seized. Fines Enforcement Units can also freeze bank accounts, arrest earnings, make deductions from benefits, or obtain arrest warrants.
“So please make sure you contact us to make suitable arrangements to pay and avoid any of this action being taken.”
The fines collection rates cover a three-year period over the financial years 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22.
Within the Sheriff Court, fine by value paid or on track to be paid remains consistently strong at 86%.
Penalties collected under the Victim Surcharge, which provides funds to victim services, have continued to progress, with £116,000 collected in the last quarter. The total now sits at £664,000 or 80% of the value of such penalties issued to 30 June 2022 now paid.
Anyone looking for advice or information on paying their fine can access it easily via our national telephone helpline on 0300 790 0014 or online form.
Most fines can be paid round the clock on our secure website at www.scotcourts.gov.uk/payyourfine or using our automated telephone payment system by phoning 0300 790 0003.
Only fines which involve the endorsement of a driving record cannot be paid electronically at the moment. For those penalties that cannot be paid using the online or telephone payment systems, customers can post payments to Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, Central Processing Unit, PO Box 23, Glasgow, G59 9DA.