A ROSYTH man who failed to keep up with fine payments had to stump up £445 before allowed on holiday.

The holidaymaker was stopped by police at Edinburgh Airport recently having been ordered to pay a £745 fine in instalments to Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He hadn’t kept up with the payments and was only allowed to continue on his journey by officers after settling the outstanding £445 in full on the spot.

When defaulters fail to attend court, warrants can be issued for their arrest and they can find themselves pulled aside as they attempt to board a flight or ferry. Defaulters who cannot pay a fine in full on the spot can be arrested and taken into custody.

“If you are planning a summer holiday, we urge you to pay your fine before heading to the air or ferry port,” said Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) acting chief operations officer David Fraser. “Otherwise, you risk being arrested and having your travel plans disrupted. It’s nicer to start your holiday without that worry hanging over you. Almost all fines can be paid quickly and easily round the clock on the SCTS website.” For anyone failing to pay a fine, the SCTS also has powers in place to clamp their car or approach their bank, employer or the Department for Work and Pensions to deduct money directly from their accounts, wages or benefits.

All defaulters are issued warnings before action is taken. Those in genuine financial difficulty can engage with enforcement officers to discuss payment terms.

Most fines can be paid via the secure website at www.scotcourts.gov.uk/payyourfine. 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 the safety camera partnerships for speeding or running a red light. In these instances, offenders can post their licence to: Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, Central Processing Unit, PO Box 23, Glasgow, G59 9DA or take it in person to any Scottish court.