LATEST figures available show that, from the beginning of January to the middle of this month, magistrates courts in Wiltshire imposed £93,000 in compensation, of which some half has been paid and the remainder is set to come in instalments.
Jane Daniels, the county accounts manager for Wiltshire Magistrates Courts, said if instalments lapse people are given the opportunity to get back on a level footing before further action is taken.
The Courts Bill - which is currently going through parliament will hand tough new powers to courts to collect fines, following a damning report by the National Audit Office.
The most controversial change will allow persistent non-payers to have their cars clamped and bailiffs will be sent in to seize their goods. The Government is also considering allowing unpaid fines to be deducted from benefits, or even from earnings.
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