Twenty-eight people were summoned to court yesterday for failing to pay a fine.

Police spokesperson, Trevor Pitt said he could not say what these fines were for but said failures to ensure warrants have been the majority of recent traffic infringements.

People with an expired warrant of fitness are given a week to pay their fines.

Pitt said police would not consider giving people more time to pay back fines.

He said the courts would not be clogged with people failing to pay fines if drivers “simply did what they’re supposed to” by keeping up their legal obligations.

A court staff member told Cook Islands News most of the fines were paid by people before they appeared in court.

Police fined a record number of drivers for a range of traffic offences in December, 2021. Infringements totalled 290 for the month – a total that would normally be spread over six months or more.

Nearly 75 per cent of drivers fined were under the age of 40. The most common minor offence – 76 per cent of the total number of fines – was driving without a warrant of fitness.