Motorists owe more than $50 million just to Melbourne's inner city councils and a large part of that is written off as doubtful debt. At last count, Victorian councils were owed a total $140 million in unpaid parking fines and associated fees, according to the Municipal Association of Victoria. Since then, in 2006, the State Government introduced sanctions for fine-dodgers, including wheel clamping or suspension of registration. Attorney-General Rob Hulls said yesterday the new measures were sending "a clear message to the community that ignoring your fines does not make them go away". But some councils, whose debts remain, question whether the new measures are working. Figures show motorists owe Melbourne City Council $23.7 million for parking fines issued in the past two years, of which $12.3 million is likely to be written off. That compares with almost $39 million raised in total fine revenue last financial year. The council's finance committee chairman, Brian Shanahan, said the new measures had made a difference, but not enough. "They've been marginally successful for us. The percentage we were recovering two years ago was 40%, now it's up to 53%," he said. "I think we're still in a situation where we're not recovering enough