Drivers refusing to pay unpaid driving fines could face losing their driver licence, and possibly their car, as a new ministerial strategy aims to reclaim more than $19 million in Tauranga City alone.

From February 2014, Driver Licence Stop Orders will be issued as a last resort to people who repeatedly ignore warning notices or court orders as the Ministry of Justice looks to intensify efforts to recoup unpaid driving fines.

Any person found driving in breach of one of the orders will have their car impounded for 28 days.

Associate Minister of Justice Chester Borrows says in some cases motorists will have to surrender their licence on the side of the road if police detect that an Driver Licence Stop Order is in place.

During 2012 and 2013, the Ministry has reclaimed $224.6 million in fines and reparation – mostly for speeding.

But nationwide there is still $240 million owing in unpaid fines – prompting the Ministry's newest infringement fee recovery effort.

During the same period (2012-2013), the Tauranga District Court has collected $8 million in fines and reparation, and a further $172,000 in offender levy payments.

The amount of fines owed at June 30, 2013, was $19.5 million – of which 37 per cent was overdue.

The Ministry of Justice's new measure will apply only to people who ignore repeated 28-day deadlines for fines, says Chester.

'If these measures are unsuccessful, the person will be sent a warning letter that their [driver] licence will be suspended if they don't contact the court to enter into a payment arrangement within 14 days. This will be followed by a final letter suspending their [driver] licence.

'Suspensions will apply to unpaid traffic fines and traffic-related reparation only.”

The policy will focus on 20,000 of the worst debtors with multiple fines or a poor record in paying off tickets. But Chester anticipates a small proportion to lose their driver licence after being contacted by the Ministry.

The Ministry also says there are a number of enforcement measures will be tried before a driver licence is suspended.

These will include attachment orders requiring money to be paid directly from wages or benefits, deductions from back accounts and property seizure. Drivers will get two weeks to make arrangements to pay the fines – and they will not have to wipe out the debt in a lump sum, but start paying off some of the fine to get their driver licence back.

Other tools introduced by the Government to achieve these results include enhanced data-matching with Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Social Development, allowing the Ministry of Justice to track down people who would otherwise not have paid their fines.

With current efforts projected to bring in $20 million during 2012/2013 financial year, so far they've delivered $82.2 million of hard-to-reach fines.

Credit check of fines, which enables the Ministry to tell credit-reporting agencies if a potential client has overdue fines or reparation, in return for updated contact information, has brought in a further $16.2 million.

The new ministerial strategy will be made aware to drivers via a public awareness campaign to begin in the New Year, with Driver Licence Stop Orders notices to be issued, when needed, from February 17, 2014.