Queensland fine dodgers will have car wheels clamped in SPER debt crackdown
Queenslanders who rack up fines with the State Government and refuse to pay will have their wheels clamped, with the threat of the sale of their vehicle.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt said debtors were thumbing their nose at the recovery efforts by the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) and incurring more fines.
Fifty debtors have 4,785 unpaid fines, worth $1.6 million.
Debt pool growth:
2005: $331,771,025
2006: $378,009,216
2007: $431,360,691
2008: $489,402,716
2009: $540,765,002
2010: $596,661,548
2011: $680,463,508
2012: $760,910,829
2013: $774,703,548
2014: $841,924,943
2015: $999,223,896
In total, SPER is owed $1.14 billion.
Mr Pitt said the first group of habitual offenders, whose vehicles are slated for wheel clamping, owe more than $5,000 each, largely from tolling, speeding and parking offences.
Their cars would firstly be immobilised, and then seized or sold if they continued to refuse to pay.
"The message is simple. If you haven't paid your fine, pay it now," Mr Pitt said.
"This is money that's owed to all Queenslanders."
SPER enforcement officers will initially roll out the targeted wheel clamping campaign in south-east Queensland before expanding it statewide.
Alternatives such as community service orders will be offered to those in genuine hardship and unable to pay.
Source: ABC News