More than $20 million of outstanding fines are owed in Otago and Southland from the past five years and almost $6 million is overdue.
Figures released by the Ministry of Justice under the Official Information Act reveal details of the fines owed in Otago and Southland.
The biggest fine dodger in the region owes almost $500,000 alone. The data shows the 62-year-old owes $486,660 for fraud- and deception-related offences.
Courts in Otago and Southland imposed $12.28 million in fines in 2015 and more than half of that sum is still owing.
More than $1.5 million in overdue fines was accrued in 2015 alone.
Courts in Dunedin accounted for the largest sum of fines with $5.61 million imposed, followed by Invercargill ($4.15 million) and Queenstown ($971,900).
Last year, courts in Otago and Southland remitted $1.62 million in fines. Of that, $1.06 million resulted in alternative sentences, such as imprisonment, community detention or community work.
Ministry of Justice collections general manager Bryre Patchell said there were various reasons courts would remit fines.
The ministry was ‘‘committed to ensuring that fines and reparation remain a credible sanction'' and a law change in 2010 allowed judges to resentence offenders to prison or home detention if fines remained unpaid.
‘‘When a fine is imposed, registrars will, in the first instance, seek payment in full, or negotiate sustainable payment arrangements, where possible,'' he said.
‘‘If these are unsuccessful, the registrar may take measures to enforce overdue amounts which can include clamping vehicles, seizing and selling property, making compulsory deductions from a person's income or bank account, suspending drivers' licences and preventing a person's international travel.
‘‘In some circumstances, the remittal of the fine is considered the most appropriate action.''
Scenarios where a person died, a company was liquidated or if there was only a small outstanding balance would often lead to remittal, he said.
‘‘In other circumstances, where enforcement action has been unsuccessful or further action is not considered appropriate, fines may be remitted by a judge and an alternative sentence imposed,'' he said.
‘‘In addition, registrars have discretion to remit court costs and enforcement fees in order to encourage people to pay the original fines. Remitting these can be a successful strategy to encourage payment of the core fines.''
Last year, more than $26 million of fines were remitted nationally. In 2014, that figure was $42.4 million.
Fines imposed
Fines in Otago and Southland's courts last year
Court & Fines imposed
Alexandra $348,310
Balclutha $18,890
Dunedin $5,619,860
Gore $546,520
Invercargill $4,150,130
Oamaru $629,910
Queenstown $971,900
