Queensland Government debt agency chases hundreds of COVID-19 fine dodgers

Hundreds of fine dodgers risk losing their driver’s licences, having cars impounded or wages docked over failure to pay COVID-19 fines.

Debt collectors are chasing three-quarters of Queenslanders slapped with hefty COVID-19 fines for flouting social distancing rules during the pandemic.

Hundreds of fine dodgers risk losing their driver’s licences, having cars impounded or wages docked over failure to pay COVID-19 fines.

The State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) is chasing payment from 1700 people who have failed to pay COVID-19 fines totalling at least $2.2 million.

“COVID fine defaulters will be pursued by SPER to the full extent of the law,’’ a State Government spokesman told The Courier-Mail.

“Most Queenslanders have done a great job in uniting against COVID-19, but a number of people have received fines after ignoring the rules and putting others at risk.

“The Chief Health Officer’s public health directions are being enforced to protect the health of Queenslanders – they will continue to be enforced.’’

The agency has frozen debt collection from 5800 Queenslanders who could not afford to pay traffic and other fines after losing work during the pandemic.

The Courier-Mail can reveal that three-quarters of COVID-19 fines have not been paid on time, triggering a referral to SPER, the State Government’s debt collection agency.

Queensland Police yesterday said 2193 people have been fined $1334 for breaching Health Department rules on COVID-19 – which banned parties, long drives, walking in groups and even recreational fishing during the April lockdowns.

Thirteen businesses have been fined $6672 each – including nightclubs fined for letting patrons dance, and outback pubs fined for letting drinkers play pool.

And 31 people have been fined $4003 for lying on border declaration forms to sneak into Queensland from COVID-19 hot spots in Victoria and NSW.

Unpaid fines are sent to SPER 57 days after being issued – and people who fail to pay the debt can have their driver’s licence suspended, car immobilised, or have money deducted from wages or bank accounts.

SPER can also issue an enforcement warrant to seize and sell property including cards, boats, caravans, valuable personal items, or block the sale of a home.

The government spokesman yesterday said 670 of the unpaid fines were “under active payment arrangement’’.

He said SPER had temporarily deferred the recovery of 5800 debts during COVID-19, on hardship grounds.

“However, the automatic approval of COVID-19 related deferral applications is being wound up and SPER will be pursuing options to recover debts,’’ he said.

The spokesman said SPER was dealing with 4.2 million unpaid debts totalling $1.29 billion.

Queensland’s Human Rights Commissioner, Scott McDougall, has asked police not to target pandemic rule-breakers too poor to pay hefty fines.