By 3 News online staff
The Ministry of Justice will soon have a new trick up its sleeve for people who don't pay their traffic fines.
From February 17, anyone who fails to pay their traffic-related fines imposed by a court, police or local government authority can have their drivers' licence taken off them.
The Driver Licence Stop Orders (DLSO) is targeted at around 136,000 people who owe approximately $48 million and are making no attempt to pay.
Courts Minister Chester Borrows says the new sanctions give authorities a powerful tool to deal with those who owe money.
"A lot of them have chosen to ignore repeated reminders and if they remain uncooperative they’ll pay for it with their driver licence."
Of all people with outstanding fines, 96 percent owe money for vehicle-related offences.
The ministry will give people owing "large" amounts two weeks' notice to pay their fine or set up a payment scheme.
They will receive another reminder before a bailiff will seize their drivers' licence and won't get it back until the fine is paid in full or a payment arrangement made.
If people are caught driving while their licence is suspended they could be prosecuted and have their car seized for 28 days.
Mr Borrows insists the point of the new order is not to "suspend lots of driver licences".
"The aim is to get people who’ve been ignoring the authority of law to take things seriously, and to pay their traffic-related fines," he says.
A television, radio and online advertising campaign around the change will start from today.
3 News
source: newshub archive
