More than $588,000 in unpaid fines was detected in just one day, during an operation in Altona North.
The Sheriff’s Office and Victoria Police used automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology to detect drivers with outstanding warrants in Millers Road last Wednesday.
ANPR cameras take images of number plates and run them against a list of vehicles with outstanding warrants.
Officers in Millers Road detected 145 drivers with a total of 1763 warrants and $588,000 in outstanding fines. Fifty-nine drivers owing a total of more than $72,000 paid on the spot.
Victorian Sheriff Brendan Facey said 17 people owing a total of more than $171,000 had their cars clamped.
“We don’t want to seize people’s cars and assets, we want people to speak with us about their options before they are caught by the sheriff,” he said.
“These results show the danger in ignoring your fines. People with outstanding warrants from unpaid fines risk being tapped on the shoulder at home, at work, at an event or on the road.”
Twenty-four people owing a total of more than $86,000 were issued with notices of a licence or registration suspension unless they took action about their fines.
Sheriff’s officers have the power to confiscate assets, suspend licences, clamp vehicles, seize property and arrest people.
People can arrange to pay their fines by calling 1300 SHERIFF or visiting www.fines.vic.gov.au or a Justice Service Centre.
