South Australian jailed for two months over unpaid fines owed to State Government’s Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit
ONE of the state’s worst fine dodgers was jailed for two months as the State Government moved to reclaim millions of dollars owed to state coffers.
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ONE of the state’s worst fine dodgers was jailed for two months last financial year as the State Government moved to reclaim millions of dollars owed to state coffers.
Over the past 12 months the state’s Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit pursued 125 people who owed significant sums of money to complete community service as another way to pay back the state.
Those who do not complete the court-ordered community service can face an enforcement order and even jail time.
Attorney-General John Rau told an Estimates hearing in Parliament on Wednesday that the unit had acted in five cases over the past year where fine defaulters refused to complete community service and one person had been jailed for 62 days as a result.
“Two people paid the sum owing in response to the enforcement proceedings, and two people are still awaiting hearing,” Mr Rau said.
“The unit is actually taking a proactive approach to try and enforce the recovery of fines.
“Obviously the idea of putting a person in prison for failure to comply with directions from the unit is very much an absolute last resort. But so far, there has been an individual in the last 12 months who was imprisoned for 62 days for failure to comply with directions.”
Under questioning from Opposition Deputy Leader Vickie Chapman, Mr Rau told Parliament that a total $302 million in unpaid fines was owed to the State Government.
The fines unit managed to recoup $124.5 million over the past 12 months, up seven per cent on the previous year.
However, during 2016-17 more than $58 million in outstanding fines was waived or put on hold, possibly to be reclaimed later.
Mr Rau said some money could not be recouped “due to data issues, such as having no names or dates of birth” of the fine dodgers.
“A considerable amount (also) is unlikely to be collected due to age, and a considerable component of the outstanding debt actually predates the (establishment of the) fines payment unit,” he said.
Mr Rau also revealed that, in order to encourage fine defaulters to address their debt, the fines unit each night attempt to suspend about 1,000 drivers licences and restricted about 800 transactions with the registrar of motor vehicles so those affected would have to make contact with the unit.