The clamp is removed when the fine is paid

The new rules will come into force on 29 March as part of a pilot project being run by the government.

At present, 33% of fines issued by magistrates' courts in the area are actually paid.

Courts in the region are to be given the new powers to reduce the number of unpaid fines.

Car removed

The pilot project will allow courts to collect money straight from people's wages or benefits, make them do community work, or allow their vehicles to be clamped.

It will be employed regardless of the type of offence they originally committed.

The clamp is removed when the fine is paid.

If that does not happen within seven days, the vehicle can be removed and put in storage.

If the fine is still not paid three months after the clamping, the courts may order the sale of the car.

Comparisons made

Gordon Thompson, who is project co-ordinator for Devon and Cornwall, said: "Having given the person who has been issued with the fine sufficient time to pay or contact the court, one of the sanctions open to us would be to issue a clamping order.

"The original offence doesn't have to be related to a motor vehicle offence, either."

The pilot will take in Devon and Cornwall, with the exception of Plymouth and north Devon.

Those areas are being left out so that comparisons can be made in order to judge how successful the experiment has been.