Queensland SPER debt soars to $1.2bn as more than 300 vehicles seized

Queenslanders coughed up a whopping $400 million in traffic fines last year, with officers preparing to expand the debt collection blitz to new suburbs. WATCH THE CAR SEIZURES.

Queenslanders refusing to pay traffic fines forked out $400 million to debt collectors last year, with more than 300 vehicles seized for auction.

An extra $100 million was collected compared to the 2021-2022 financial year, as State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) officers continued chipping away at an estimated $1.2 billion debt pile.

Treasurer Cameron Dick said the SPER collections were an imperative source of revenue during the cost of living crisis and that regardless of financial struggles, Queenslanders expected their fellow residents to pay up if they were caught doing the wrong thing.

“With Queensland facing cost of living pressures we know that every dollar counts,” he said.

“The message is clear. Pay your fine, pay your debt, or your vehicle will be seized and sold.

“It doesn't matter your circumstances if you break the law, you have to pay the price for breaking the law.

A man clashes with SPER officers as they seize a luxury vehicle over unpaid traffic fines. Picture: Supplied

“I think Queenslanders expect them to pay the fine, to pay the penalty that they owe because that‘s money owed to the people of Queensland.”

SPER officers have been targeting South East Queensland as part of a special blitz operation, seizing 58 cars and $1.7 million in cash.

High end vehicles including a Mustang, Porsche Cayenne and a Harley Davidson have also been seized, with the next phase of the blitz to focus on northern Brisbane suburbs Chermside, Nundah, Oxley, Mt Gravatt and Tingalpa.

Footage taken from body worn cameras show heated interactions between SPER officers and residents before large seizure stickers are placed on their cars.

A luxury vehicle seized by debt collectors in Queensland. Picture: Supplied

One resident can be heard swearing and making threats towards officers, saying “f*** you” and “I’m going to cave you when I see you”.

SPER director Kim Easton said the collection blitz would soon expand beyond Brisbane suburbs to regional areas including Cairns and Townsville.

He said SPER gave Queenslanders multiple opportunities to do the right thing before resorting to enforcement operations and seizures.

“We will move through an escalating enforcement option and we’ll do things like suspending people’s driver’s licenses and that’s very successful against most people,” he said.

A Porsche seized over unpaid fines. Picture: Supplied

“But for those people that don’t care about that, of course we need to take stronger action and that’s what we’ll do things such as taking money from their bank accounts or from their wages and seizing their car if they continue to do the wrong thing.

“These are people that have very large debts and have refuse to deal with them in any way and so we’re put in a situation where we have to take tough enforcement action.

“It will be situations where we have come to people’s homes or places of business and take an action such as clamping or even seizing their vehicles to sell to pay down the debt that they owe to people.”

Originally published as Queensland SPER debt soars to $1.2bn as more than 300 vehicles seized