FOUR Ayrshire fines dodgers had to stump up hundreds of pounds after leaving their homes to find their vehicles had been clamped over unpaid fines.

The two men and two women failed to pay fines, varying from £45 to £150 for motoring offences, which had been issued to them by the courts.

Despite court warnings the four still failed to pay and seizure orders were issued at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and their vehicles were clamped at addresses in Ardrossan, Kilwinning, Irvine and Kilmarnock.

The fines were quickly paid in full and the drivers also had to pay a clamping fee.

Now drivers are being warned they face having their vehicles clamped if they do not settle their fines and have to pay additional clamping costs and mounting daily fees when a car is taken into storage.

Vehicles are ultimately scrapped or sold off if they do not settle their fines.

A new electronic interface between the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and the DVLA vehicle database has enhanced the ability to track down drivers with unpaid fines.

Clamping vehicles is one of a number of measures available to the SCTS for recovering unpaid fines.

Other measures include freezing bank accounts, arresting wages, taking money directly from benefits and even arresting non-payers at ports and airports.

Most fines can be paid round the clock at www. scotcourts.gov.uk/ payyourfine or using the automated telephone payment system by phoning 0300 790 0003.

Only fines which involve the endorsement of a driving record cannot be paid electronically at the moment.

Customers can post payments to Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, Central Processing Unit, PO Box 23, Glasgow, G59 9DA or take it in person to any fines office.