NSW Fine Defaulters Blitz

["Erk" <erk@erkV69.au.com>]

from http://www.news.com.au without comment (for now)


Blitz on fine defaulters

14mar01

A CAMPAIGN is under way to force 300,000 people to pay $400 million in
unpaid fines dating back to the '80s.

The blitz on unpaid infringements - ranging from fines for not voting to
parking tickets - has already resulted in an average of 430 people a day
being stripped of their driving licence.
Around 130 people a day are losing their car registrations while another 200
who are not drivers have had a "stop" put on further business with the RTA.

The State Debt Recovery Office (SDRO) confirmed yesterday its staff numbers
were doubled from 60 to 130 last July to push ahead with the blitz.

The added resources allocated in the state Budget came with a directive to
chase down an estimated 1.2 million defaulted matters dating back 16 years.

Since then tens of thousands of fine defaulters have received notices
stating: It's time to pay up.

The average dollar value of neglected fines per defaulter is about $1100,
although some have been identified as owing more than $20,000.

Before July last year the emphasis of the SDRO, established in 1998, was on
collecting unpaid recent fines.

The campaign has already had extraordinary success, recouping $186 million
for State Treasury.

Those defaulters that still do not pay their fines after losing their
licences are having their televisions, videos, cars and even boats seized.
About 18,000 property seizure orders have been issued by the sheriffs'
office.

SDRO director Brian Robertson last night said his agency was determined to
track down unpaid government dues.

"There is no statute of limitations on fines," he said.

"The people we contact about their unpaid fines still have the usual rights
of contesting them in court."

He said the SDRO would pursue defaulters as long as a reliable address could
be found for them.

The SDRO was prepared to enter into a repayment instalment scheme with
defaulters to recover the unpaid funds.

But Opposition legal affairs spokesman Chris Hartcher said last night the
campaign was revenue collection getting out of hand.

He said if a government agency was not effective enough to chase an
outstanding fine within a couple of years, the defaulter should not be held
to blame years later.


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Erk
URL: http://www.erk.au.com
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