WATERLOO REGION - The Region of Waterloo is losing ground on unpaid fines at a rate of about $2 million every year making for a backlog that totals more than $39 million since 2000.

But officials are hopeful proposed provincial law could help them collect the money by refusing drivers their annual license plate registration if fines are unpaid.

"It's a lot of money," Coun. Tom Galloway said. "It's a big, big number."

Regional politicians voted Tuesday to ask the province to approve Bill 31 which amends Ontario's transportation laws.

As part of the amendment licence plates and renewals would be denied for drivers with unpaid fines for violations including speeding, improper lane changes, illegal turns, driving without insurance and careless driving.

Right now drivers thumb their noses at fines and regional staff and contracted collection agencies are left chasing people for the money.

Provincial Offences Act fines are issued for driving and vehicle insurance, Liquor Licence Act and municipal bylaw violations.

Highway Traffic Act fines total about $20 million of the unpaid fines. Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act fines total about $9.5 million. Miscellaneous fines account for about $4.1 million of the total, with the rest attributed to Liquor License Act violations.

Just $640,000 in unpaid fines were brought in by regional collectors in 2014.

Fines have been difficult to collect, staff say, because not all provincial offences fines are subject to the licence plate renewal option for enforcement.

Collecting fines dating back 15 years makes the challenge even more difficult.

"We'll work through this and certainly this legislation will help us immensely with the current fines," said Regional clerk Kris Fletcher.

Some of the historic fines may also be written off the books because they are so difficult to collect, she said.

The new rules wouldn't be a magic solution to the region's problem, which is shared by cities across the province to the tune of about $1.5 billion.

Staff say some people will continue to ignore their fines regardless of the renewal rules, and drive without a licence.

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The region would like to see further enforcement powers to collect fines, including tying all Provincial Offences Act fines to plate renewals, permission to charge interest and the ability to intercept income tax returns.

The proposed legislation is still being considered by provincial government committees.