Dodging penalties not fine

1102NZHGPJCOP03 Sergeant Dave Best ,from the Strategic Traffic Unit,explains to a driver their speeding offence, on traffic patrol on Tamaki Drive. 11FEBUARY2005NEW ZEALAND HERALD DIGITAL PHOTOGR

The Government is claiming a hard-line initiative has raked in more than half a million dollars for traffic fines in Rotorua.

Since February 2014, $614,145 has been collected for traffic-related fines in Rotorua and this has been credited to Driver Licence Stop Orders (DLSO). 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.

Rotorua officer in charge of road policing, Senior Sergeant Nicky Riordan, said police continued to work towards ensuring all road users complied with relevant road rules and driver licence conditions, and drove road safe vehicles.

"Infringement notices are one way in which those people who don't comply are dealt with," she said. "Ultimately police would like to see everyone abiding by the road rules and driving vehicles which legally comply."

Mrs Riordan didn't want to comment on whether the orders should be extended to non-traffic related offences.

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

Justice Minister Amy Adams said the orders helped send the message it was not acceptable 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 aim of [the orders] was not to take away people's drivers licences but to ensure that fines remain a credible sanction."

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. These fines have either been paid in full or have made arrangements."

Nearly 12,000 warning letters have been sent to customers. Twenty-seven drivers currently have their licences suspended, while a further 11 drivers had had their licences suspended and then reinstated when the 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. NZME.