Online fine payment

Scottish Court Service (SCS) fines can now be paid online following the launch of a new payment facility.

This not only makes fine payment easier for offenders, but has increased efficiency in the SCS.

Fines collection rates continue to remain strong and a SCS quarterly report published today shows that 90% of the value of sheriff court fines imposed over a three year period from 2007 to 2010 has either been paid or is on track to be paid. The collection of other fine types has increased from between one and three percentage points on the previous rate, continuing a trend of steady improvement.

Fine defaulters face robust enforcement sanctions which include having their wages arrested, bank accounts frozen, benefits deducted or cars clamped and ultimately sold. Since 2007, more than 311,800 enforcement orders and more than 47,400 benefit deduction orders have been granted by Scottish courts, while officers have agreed to revise payment terms in almost 102,900 accounts.

The new online facility adds to existing payment provision and anyone who has received a fine, including parking or police tickets, can now visit the secure SCS website and complete payment.

Only fines which involve the endorsement of a driving licence with penalty points cannot be paid electronically, including some police traffic tickets and penalties issued by Safety Camera Partnerships for speeding or running a red light. In these instances offenders can post their licence or take it in person to any Scottish court.