Courts start car clamping
29/12/2009
In Glasgow last week three car owners were the first to have their vehicles clamped by the Scottish Court Service for outstanding fines.
Since July, the Scottish Court Service has stepped up its enforcement action against non-payers, making it clear that all outstanding fines will be pursued.
Eric McQueen, Director of Field Services for SCS, said:
"We introduced new tracing facilities which make it easier for us to identify defaulters and deduct outstanding fines from their benefits, wages or bank accounts. It also helps us identify if they are a car owner, in which case we have powers to seize and sell the vehicle."
"We have issued warnings to car owners before and they normally pay up but there are some people who still believe they can get away with not paying their fines. Fine dodgers have nowhere to hide; the Scottish Court service will use all the available sanctions to collect their fine including clamping and seizing their car."
The three car owners are all Glasgow based but clamping orders have also been issued for car owning defaulters elsewhere in Scotland and these will also be enforced if non-payment continues.
Eric McQueen concluded: "The owners of these cars have had ample warning of the consequence of non-payment of their fine. I hope this sends out a clear warning to others with outstanding fines."
All of the owners of the clamped cars subsequently paid their fines plus the additional contractor's expenses and their cars have now been released.
The most recent fines enforcement figures published earlier in December show fine collection at the highest ever rate.
The car owners who were clamped had unpaid fines ranging from £45-£180 for road traffic offences including no road tax and parking in restricted areas.
Apart from the original fine notification they will have received a warning letter and an enforcement order outlining what sanctions may be taken to collect the fine.
Once a vehicle has been clamped, the vehicle will stay where it has been seized for up to 24 hours or until the fine is paid in full, along with any vehicle immobilisation costs. If the fine remains unpaid, the contractor will then remove the vehicle to a place of storage.
Once in storage, the vehicle will stay there until full payment of the fine and associated immobilisation and storage costs is made or until it is sold or the Seizure of Vehicle Order is recalled.
