Luxury cars seized in crackdown on unpaid fines

The State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) Queensland has recently targeted Cairns and Townsville residents who refused to settle their unpaid fines during a recent raid – with authorities claiming almost 80 vehicles were seized and clamped.

Authorities retrieved more than a million dollars in cash and payment plan commitments – with $300,000 recovered from debtors in Townsville – 45 vehicles were immobilised due to non-payment.

A further $350,000 in unpaid fines was reportedly collected in the Cairns region, along with $677,000 in payment options according to Queensland media outlet, Cairns Post, while 31 vehicles were clamped.

Of the 76 vehicles immobilised during the debt recovery blitz, models like the Toyota Landcruiser, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Patrol as well as luxury cars such as a Lexus RC and Range Rover were seen clamped by Queensland authorities.

Body cam footage showed SPER officers clamping and posting notices on vehicles while talking to an upset anonymous offender.

SPER enforcement director Kim Easton claimed authorities will take action to recover debts and have warned residents refusing to pay their fines to expect officer presence in their homes and/or workplaces.

“SPER debts don’t go away, and people need to pay their fine on time, otherwise our officers will take the necessary action to enforce the law,” he said in a media statement.

“SPER can take actions such as taking money from people’s bank accounts, or from their wages or even seizing and selling their cars to pay down the money they owe to Queensland.”

The debt collection organisation claimed a combined 279,087 fines were issued to 41,363 offenders in Townsville and Cairns in November 2023 – totalling an outstanding balance of $99,222,000 – with traffic infringements such as speeding the most common offence in Queensland.

During the operation, authorities reportedly identified two unnamed debtors in the Cairns and Townsville Queensland regions who had each accumulated over 80 unpaid fines.

The unspecified offenders were charged with various crimes relating to possession of weapons/dangerous drugs, breaking and entering, stealing, physical assaults and traffic infringements.

Mr Easton claimed the money recovered from the debt blitz is owed to Queensland residents and anyone unwilling to abide by the debt laws can face consequences.

"SPER debts are money owed to all Queenslanders, including victims of crime, so if you refuse to pay, you can expect to face tough actions," he said in a previous media statement.