FIFTY people in the Scarborough area have been fined up to £160 eacg as part of a crackdown on householders using televisions without a licence.
A spokeswoman for the regional office of TV Licensing, which runs the system, warned: "We are having an ongoing crackdown in the area."
Those who are caught could be fined up to 1,000, but the actual level of fine is determined by magistrates.
The spokeswoman said: "Obviously it can be cheaper for people to pay for a TV licence than be caught and face a fine."
People whose cases were dealt with on the same day by Scarborough magistrates recently were fined 6,150 between them and were ordered to pay up to 45 each in costs.
A colour television licence costs 116 a year and a black and white one 38.50.
The licence can be paid for with one payment or on a monthly basis through a bank direct debit of up to 10 a time.
Seventeen of those dealt with at Scarborough court were landed with a 160 fine while 23 found themselves 120 out of pocket.
Three others were punished with an 80 fine, four with 60 and three with 50.
In four other hearings one person was given a conditional discharge, another had their case adjourned and two were withdrawn.
The northern office of TV Licensing said it would be issuing figures soon to show the total number of licence dodgers caught in the region recently.