- Car rego loss for fine evaders in Victoria
- By Ashley Gardiner
- The Australian
- 19/01/2009 Make a Comment (1)
- Contributed by: BeWitched ( 1 article in 2009 )
THE Victorian Government is struggling to cope with an explosion in the number of unpaid fines.
Almost 1000 court orders lapse in Victoria every day.
Attorney-General Rob Hulls yesterday threatened fine evaders with cancellation of their car registrations.
Such a power has existed since 2006.
The Herald Sun can reveal the number of expired enforcement orders has skyrocketed by a shocking 130 per cent in four years.
Such orders are issued by the courts following failure to pay an infringement notice.
During 2007-08, more than 332,000 such orders lapsed because no action was taken.
In 2004-05, 142,000 enforcement orders expired.
A source said the number of expired enforcement orders was rising in line with the number of fines issued by the Government.
Shadow attorney-general Robert Clark said the resources to enforce the increased number of fines did not exist.
"While the honest motorist pays the fine, even if they believe it is unfair, the defaulters who thumb their nose at the law are getting away with it," Mr Clark said.
"The Sheriff's office has been understaffed and has had a series of management problems for years."
The biggest jump was between 2007-08 and the previous year; an extra 81,000 enforcement orders lapsed.
"The Sheriff's office is finding it harder and harder to cope," Mr Clark said.
Infringement notices can be issued by a range of state organisations, including the police, government departments and local councils.
During 2006-07, 4.1 million infringement notices were issued across all organisations.
Mr Hulls said yesterday Victorians who ignored fine reminders would not be able to renew their car registrations.
He said the Government would begin a six-month trial as part of a statewide crackdown on fine defaulters.
Mr Hulls said the Sheriff could direct VicRoads to stop the registration of a fine defaulter's vehicle.
"People who don't pay their fines run the risk of driving an unregistered motor vehicle," Mr Hulls said yesterday.
Fine defaulters will start receiving warning letters to this effect from today.
"It is the latest in a series of tough new sanctions introduced by the Brumby Government to target fine defaulters, including wheel-clamping and the suspension of driving licences," Mr Hulls said.
This power has existed from 2006, but has not been widely enforced until now.
Introducing the legislation into Parliament in 2005, Mr Hulls said: "Any renewal notice sent by VicRoads will indicate that a person will need to pay their fines . . . before the licence or registration can be renewed."
It was first foreshadowed in an announcement by Mr Hulls more than three years ago.
Almost 1000 court orders lapse in Victoria every day.
Attorney-General Rob Hulls yesterday threatened fine evaders with cancellation of their car registrations.
Such a power has existed since 2006.
The Herald Sun can reveal the number of expired enforcement orders has skyrocketed by a shocking 130 per cent in four years.
Such orders are issued by the courts following failure to pay an infringement notice.
During 2007-08, more than 332,000 such orders lapsed because no action was taken.
In 2004-05, 142,000 enforcement orders expired.
A source said the number of expired enforcement orders was rising in line with the number of fines issued by the Government.
Shadow attorney-general Robert Clark said the resources to enforce the increased number of fines did not exist.
"While the honest motorist pays the fine, even if they believe it is unfair, the defaulters who thumb their nose at the law are getting away with it," Mr Clark said.
"The Sheriff's office has been understaffed and has had a series of management problems for years."
The biggest jump was between 2007-08 and the previous year; an extra 81,000 enforcement orders lapsed.
"The Sheriff's office is finding it harder and harder to cope," Mr Clark said.
Infringement notices can be issued by a range of state organisations, including the police, government departments and local councils.
During 2006-07, 4.1 million infringement notices were issued across all organisations.
Mr Hulls said yesterday Victorians who ignored fine reminders would not be able to renew their car registrations.
He said the Government would begin a six-month trial as part of a statewide crackdown on fine defaulters.
Mr Hulls said the Sheriff could direct VicRoads to stop the registration of a fine defaulter's vehicle.
"People who don't pay their fines run the risk of driving an unregistered motor vehicle," Mr Hulls said yesterday.
Fine defaulters will start receiving warning letters to this effect from today.
"It is the latest in a series of tough new sanctions introduced by the Brumby Government to target fine defaulters, including wheel-clamping and the suspension of driving licences," Mr Hulls said.
This power has existed from 2006, but has not been widely enforced until now.
Introducing the legislation into Parliament in 2005, Mr Hulls said: "Any renewal notice sent by VicRoads will indicate that a person will need to pay their fines . . . before the licence or registration can be renewed."
It was first foreshadowed in an announcement by Mr Hulls more than three years ago.
Source: https://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24930449-5006785,00.html
Instead of him and his legal chronies reassing the oppression they're inflicting upon people (not unlike the early days of communism and nazism I suspect), they want to prevent renewal of people's registration.
Good thinking dickwad. Real smart and brainy NOT!!
Guess what - People won't bother renewing their registration, but will still keep driving. So they get a fine. So what. Add that to the list of already unpaid fines. Fine, seize assets if people have any.
Can't pay - fine put people ordinary people in jail. See how long that lasts before Hulls and his tyrannical laws are thrown out.
Or, following that will be a revolt by the population causing anarchy, a greater dip in the economy and more hardship and suffering to everyone.
Your a smart fella Mr Hulls, but only in your imagination.
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