Fine dodger’s wages arrested

A St Andrews man convicted of a motoring offence dodged his fine for a year until it was seized from his wages.

He was fined £1,230 at Greenock Sheriff Court for failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

Warning letters and payment schedule offers were ignored before an earnings seizure order was made.

The case of the man, who has not been named, was highlighted as the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service warned of the consequences of failing to pay up.

Bank accounts can be frozen or wages arrested. Vehicles can also be clamped, money taken from benefits and arrests made at ports and airports.

A report released by the service revealed the fines collection rate was consistently strong, with 88% of the value of sheriff court fines imposed during the last three years paid, or on track to be paid.

Chief operations officer David Fraser said: “The fine enforcement teams continue to be highly effective in securing unpaid fines. Ignoring your fine and not speaking to an enforcement officer if you are having difficulty paying is very unwise.

“Failure to pay or to engage with our officers will result in strong sanctions being taken including arrestment of wages, bank accounts, your car being clamped or inconvenience and embarrassment by being arrested when travelling abroad.”