Warning over fine dodging after car clamped

THE courts service has warned people not to ignore fines after a drink driver who failed to pay a penalty saw his Porsche sports car clamped by enforcement officers.

The 38-year-old, from Falkirk, was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £520 when he was convicted at Falkirk Justice of the Peace Court in September last year, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) said.

But his vehicle was clamped outside his home after he did not respond to several requests for payment and a warning letter.

SCTS said that in the end the driver not only had to pay his fine, but also settle clamping and seizure expenses before his car was released.

Latest figures from SCTS show that collection rates across all fine and penalty types continued to improve in recent months, with the three-year collection rate showing 86 per cent of fines paid or on track to be paid within sheriff courts as at October 17, 2022.

SCTS urged those facing financial hardship to seek advice rather than just ignoring fines.

David Fraser, SCTS executive director of court operations, said: “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 is not an option. We will employ sanctions against offenders who we are satisfied have failed to pay without a reasonable excuse.”

The fines collection rates cover a three-year period over the financial years 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22. Within justice of the peace courts, the proportion of fines imposed between 20192020 and 2021-22 which were paid or on track to be paid was at 85% last month.