Police Agency Strengthens Crackdown on Overdue Fines

▲If the overdue amount exceeds 300,000 KRW and is overdue for more than 60 days License plate confiscation

☞This year, 23,133 license plates confiscated

▲If a person with overdue fines violates traffic regulations

Converted to penalty fines → Points added → Driver's license suspension or cancellation

"Correcting the mistaken prejudice that 'not paying is okay'"

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The police are taking action to eradicate the “rule-breaking behavior” of failing to pay traffic fines imposed for traffic violations over an extended period. The plan includes confiscating license plates and imposing penalty points, which could lead to the suspension or cancellation of driver’s licenses.

The National Police Agency announced on March 9 that it is carrying out a special operation to confiscate vehicle license plates in order to manage overdue traffic fines. During the crackdown, they are investigating whether the actual overdue individual is driving the vehicle, and stated that they will strictly enforce ▲conversion of fines to penalty fines ▲imposition of penalty points on driver’s licenses ▲suspension or cancellation of driver’s licenses as necessary.

More than 95% of drivers who receive traffic fines for violations such as speeding and running red lights pay them faithfully. However, a small group has continued to avoid payment for extended periods, causing the total amount of overdue fines to steadily increase.

In response, the police have implemented strengthened measures for collecting overdue fines since January this year and are conducting the “Special Crackdown on Vehicle License Plate Confiscation.” Under the Act on the Regulation of Violations of Public Order, if a person owes over 300,000 won in auto-related fines for more than 60 days, the competent administrative agency may confiscate and hold the vehicle’s license plate. So far this year, the police have confiscated 23,133 license plates and collected overdue fines totaling 10 billion won.

In particular, if it is confirmed that a person with overdue fines has actually driven the vehicle and committed a traffic violation, the police cancel the previous fine and convert it to a penalty fine. Through this process, penalty points are imposed on the driver’s license, and depending on the accumulated points, the driver’s license can be suspended or cancelled.

To collect all overdue fines to the end, the authorities are also seizing vehicles and bank accounts owned by offenders. As of March 5, collections amounted to 26.8 billion won and 4.7 billion won respectively, up 32.7% and 16.1% from the same period last year.

The police plan to continue the special crackdown on vehicle license plate confiscation at a heightened level through April.

Kim Hoseung, Director of the Traffic and Public Safety Bureau at the National Police Agency, said, "We will correct the mistaken belief that 'not paying fines is okay' and thoroughly manage the system so that those who pay faithfully do not feel disadvantaged."