Eastern Community Legal Centre manager, Denise Budge, said the Victorian Government’s waiver on additional fees and charges, which started on February 2 and ends on March 19, would be followed by tough new laws that would affect people with outstanding fines.

The fee waiver applies to fines lodged with the Infringements Court that have accrued lodgement, enforcement order and warrant issue fees.

From March 20, Sheriff’s Officers will have new powers to sanction the renewal of vehicle registrations, seize property, apply wheel clamps and suspend driver licenses.

Ms Budge people needed to know about both the chance to pay off outstanding fines and the tough new powers.

"In the outer east, it is not uncommon for people to amass multiple fines," she said.

"Many of our clients can’t afford to pay for their car to be registered and because of poor public transport continue driving anyway, receiving fines for doing so. Add to these an occasional speeding fine or a failure to pay an Eastlink toll and the fees and charges all add up. The fee waiver is an important opportunity for people in the local community to save money and resolve their infringement problems once and for all."

Eastern Community Legal Centre is holding an information session about the fee waiver program at 11.00am on March 9 at 6 Floriston Rd, Boronia.