The fee waiver program has been taken up by 20 councils throughout Victoria, but Bendigo will not participate.

Under the waiver, people can pay outstanding fines - issued by participating local councils and all State Government bodies - without the late penalty that is placed on top once they reach the court system.

The waiver is designed to coax people with unpaid amounts - such as parking fines - to come forward before they are dealt with by the Sheriff’s Office.

The City of Greater Bendigo reaped $685,000 from parking machines last financial year.

A council spokeswoman said: “An operational decision was taken that the fee waiver wasn’t in the

best interests of the broader community at this time.”

Attorney-General Rob Hulls said the waiver had been popular so far. Mr Hulls yesterday announced that another nine councils had decided to participate in the scheme.

“The public’s response to the fee waiver has been very promising so far, with a significant number of people taking up the opportunity to deal with their fines,” he said.

“The waiver gives fine defaulters an ever greater opportunity to act on their fines instead of simply hoping they will go away.

“The Sheriff’s Office will be targeting people with outstanding warrants in a series of operations across the state once the fee waiver is finished.”

The councils taking part in the scheme include regional and metropolitan municipalities.

The nearby councils Macedon Ranges and Campaspe have decided to participate in the waiver scheme.