NSW nets $67 million during fines amnesty

5 Aug 2012, 6:57 pm   -   Source: AAP

The NSW government says a moratorium on enforcement costs on unpaid fines has encouraged people to clear debts and earned the state $67 million.

A Sydney man has had a fine time handing over almost $24,000 to clear more than 180 traffic tickets.

The eastern suburbs man is one of more than 61,000 people who have taken advantage of a NSW government amnesty to pay about $67 million in overdue fines.

Finance Minister Greg Pearce said 320,779 late fines were paid during the six-week moratorium on enforcement, or late, fees, which ended on July 31.

Fines for traffic offences such as using a mobile phone while driving netted $16.7 million, while 77,300 parking fines worth $9.2 million were paid.

About $7.5 million worth of overdue speeding fines were paid, along with $4.5 million for offences on public transport and $1.3 million in toll evasion fines.

Mr Pearce said the offer was about helping people clear debts.

"The longer fines remain unpaid, the tougher the penalties will be, ranging from the suspension of a driver's licence to the garnisheeing of wages," he said in a statement on Sunday.

Those who can't pay a fine in one go should look at an instalment plan, he said.

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