A SHERIFF'S office raid on drivers with unpaid fines has nabbed 60 people.The operation, launched at the Super Southern Swap Meet at the weekend, netted the State Government $190,000 from 728 warrants.A vehicle with a specially fitted number-plate reader combed the event's makeshift parking lot at the Ballarat Airport on Friday and Saturday.Any number plates with warrants for overdue speeding, parking or tollway fines were matched with a Justice Department database.The cars were fitted with wheel clamps, and drivers had to pay up at a mobile sheriff's van at the edge of the swap meet. Patrons who had the clamps applied said they had been told their cars could be towed away on Saturday night if they did not pay up.But the sheriff's office Grampians regional manager Andrew Wright said people were given several options before their vehicles would be towed. "It's the absolute, total last option," Mr Wright said.No cars were towed by the time the sheriff's van packed up at 6.30pm on Saturday.A team of 16 sheriff's officers from Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo were involved in the operation.Veronica Wilson of Ballarat was one of those detected with fines to pay.She owed $2500 in speeding and parking tickets. "The issue is they're making me come up with $1000 today otherwise my car is getting impounded and sold," Ms Wilson said."It's just sneaky on a day like this."Smythes Creek resident Mick Jolly, who was working as a security guard at the event, returned to a ute he was to go home in on Saturday morning to find one of the wheels had been clamped. He had borrowed the vehicle from a friend to get to work on Friday night. "You can't do anything," Mr Jolly said.A few minutes after The Courier spoke with Mr Jolly, officers arrived and unclamped the ute."It's been sorted out," said one officer.But Mr Jolly said the operation could hurt the event."People are saying it will ruin the swap meet." Meanwhile, The Courier understands several other people at the swap meet were fined for keeping illegal milk crates.