A blitz on fine evaders in Melton earlier this month identified 50 people with 467 outstanding warrants valued at more than $162,000.
Uniformed Sheriff’s officers in the western metropolitan region used automatic numberplate recognition technology to identify offenders in the car park of Woodgrove Shopping Centre on High Street.
The vehicles of 21 drivers with a total of more than $85,000 in unpaid fines were clamped and the drivers had to arrange some form of payment before the clamps were removed.
Notices were issued against 63 warrants, worth more than $21,000, and some drivers were told their driving licences or vehicle registrations would be suspended if they did not pay within seven days.
Payment was received from 15 people on the day. That finalised 39 warrants worth more than $11,000.
Sheriff of Victoria Brendan Facey said operations such as this would continue in a bid to stamp out fine evasion and remind people of the dire consequences of not paying fines.
“Technology is making it easier to locate fine evaders and, if necessary, take action to have the fines paid,” Mr Facey said.
“Payment of fines is not optional. People are liable for their outstanding infringements, and continuing to ignore them will not make them go away.”
Mr Facey said he urged anyone with concerns about their outstanding fines to call 1300 SHERIFF for advice about their options before they are caught by Sheriff’s officers.
Outstanding fines can be paid at the www.fines.vic.gov.au website or by visiting any of the Justice Service Centres in the region.
