Scheme offers incentive to pay traffic fines

A new scheme was introduced last February that threatens defaulters with losing their licence to drive if they fail to pay traffic-related fines.

The Government is claiming a hardline initiative has raked in more than three quarters of a million dollars for traffic related fines in Hawke's Bay.

Since February 2014, $750,078 has been collected for traffic related fines in the Bay and this has been credited to Driver Licence Stop Orders (DLSO).

By district, the Hastings District Council collected more than $300,000, as did the Napier District Court. The Dannevirke District Court collected almost $50,000 and Wairoa District Court collected more than $60,000.

The DLSO scheme was introduced last February and threatens defaulters with losing their licence to drive if they fail to pay traffic-related fines imposed by a court, police or local government authority - or reparations imposed by a court for traffic-related offences.

People are sent warning letters and - if the fines aren't paid in full or payment arrangements aren't made - their licences are suspended.

Senior sergeant Greg Brown said the orders made getting people to repay their fines much easier.

"We are happy to support any of those initiatives that resolve outstanding fines because, often, they can involve reparation for victims.

"It is one more tool in the box to resolve what has been difficult.

"In the past, we would arrest people for unpaid fines and put them before the court then they would make a resolution through the court. This adds another incentive for people to pay their fines and possibly avoid that process," he said.

"It gives people an immediate incentive and means people had better get their fines sorted or face the consequences.

"They may have been able to bank on it not having that same level of immediacy in the past."

Mr Brown said people cannot just avoid paying their fines.

"Hopefully, knowing that they can't just simply not pay and avoid, will translate to them making better decisions on the road which in turn will make the roads safer."

Nationally, more than $20 million in unpaid traffic-related fines and reparations have been paid since it became possible for people to lose their licence if they did not pay up.

Justice Minister Amy Adams said the orders helped send the message it was not acceptable or sensible to ignore fines.

"The Stop Orders are working as intended," she said. "Rather than potentially losing their licence, people are choosing to pay their fines."

The nearly 19,500 people who had paid up included New Zealanders living across the ditch, she said. "There has also been a significant response from people owing fines in New Zealand but are now living in Australia in response to us sending them the warning letters."

Nearly 12,000 warning letters have been sent to customers so far. Twenty seven drivers have their licences suspended, while a further 11 drivers had had their licences suspended and then reinstated when fines were paid.

An additional 1800 people had a DLSO status as they arranged to pay the fines. Original forecasts estimated $7 million annually would be collected by the scheme.