Australian state owed 1.3 bln USD in unpaid fines

Australia's Victorian government is owed more than 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in unpaid fines, it has been revealed.

The record fine debt, up 7 percent from the previous year, came as a result of citizens not paying a host of fines, most notably parking fines and fines for failing to vote in elections.

The Victorian government has taken drastic action to recoup the money owed, instructing the Victorian Sherriff's Office to begin clamping the wheels of cars of serial fine evaders.

Brendan Facey, Victoria's Sherriff, issued a warning that Victorians need to pay their fines or face escalating consequences.

"Unfortunately, some people are still not getting the message that you cannot ignore your unpaid fines," Facey told News Limited on Monday.

"We don't want to see people's matters escalating through the system. We want people to speak to us about their options before they are caught by sheriff's officers."

Authorities have also seized assets and suspended people's licenses in retaliation for not paying red light and speeding camera fines.

The rise in total debt came despite the number of fines handed out dropping significantly from previous years.

Residents of the City of Casey, southeast of Melbourne's Central Business District, racked up the biggest fine debt for the second consecutive year, owing a total of 102 million U.S. dollars at the end of the last financial year. Endit