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Third of Merseyside drivers ignore penalty notices
Dec 8 2006
By Sam Lister Daily Post Staff

ONE in three Merseyside motorists hit with penalty notices over the last two years have ignored them, racking up more than £1m in unpaid fines.

Figures released yesterday also revealed a further £992,000 worth of fines issued for drunk and disorderly behaviour and harassment are also outstanding.

Last night, Cllr Ron Gould, the city council's police authority representative, said people had become apathetic because so many fines were being issued.

But enforcement officers insisted new powers that allow them to clamp drivers' cars, take up to 17% of the offender's pay or deduct money from benefits, would improve the collection rates.

Cllr Gould told the Daily Post: "It's alarming to see the figures.


"There are so many tickets issued for things now that we need to know if people have just got to the point where they are ignoring them.


"People seem to be apathetic. The question is 'are these a deterrent'?"


Police Authority figures show 24% of drivers failed to pay £60 speeding fines last year rising to 35% this year.


Around one third of those issued with £30 tickets for minor offences such as failing to wear a seat belt did not pay.


A huge 59% of offenders given £80 penalty notices for public disorder offences in 2005 ignored the notices, dropping by 4% this year.


If the tickets, issued by police, are not paid they are handed over to the courts to be chased by members of the enforcement team.