Close to 100 people with outstanding warrants valued at more than $302,000 were caught by the Sheriff’s Office during an operation in Hoppers Crossing last week.
The office and Victoria Police carried out an ‘automatic numberplate recognition operation’ on Old Geelong Road last Wednesday, targeting serial fine evaders.
Motorists’ numberplates were scanned as they drove past.
The operation identified 98 drivers with outstanding warrants totalling $302,566.
Sheriff Brendan Facey said it was one of the biggest results for his office in recent months, and the operation had served to remind people of the serious consequence of failing to pay their fines.
“Payment of fines is not optional,” Mr Facey said.
“People are liable for their outstanding infringements, and continuing to ignore them will not make them go away.”
Sheriff’s officers have the power to confiscate assets, suspend drivers’ licences, place clamps on vehicle wheels, seize property and arrest people.
During the operation, officers clamped 26 cars and 16 people were issued with notices to suspend their licences or registrations.
And 53 people paid more than $54,000 on- the-spot to settle their debts.
“These results show the danger in ignoring your fines,” Mr Facey said. “People with outstanding warrants from unpaid fines risk being tapped on the shoulder at home, at work, at an event or on the road. We don’t want to seize people’s cars and assets . . . we want people to speak with us about their options before they’re caught by the Sheriff.”
As reported by Star Weekly, the Sheriff’s Office issued 22,529 Wyndham residents with warrants for outstanding fines between July 1, 2013 and June 30.
The warrants add up to about $54 million.
To track unpaid fines or make a payment, visit www.fines.vic.gov.au.
