CRIME does not pay, and neither do Warwick criminals.

The most recent State Penalties Enforcement Registry figures, which are from November 30, 2015, reveal about 1500 residents owe almost $2.7 million.

To put that figure into perspective, it is just over the amount the State Government put towards the Timber Bridge Replacement Project which will replace four bridges - in Leslie, Womina, Leyburn and Elbow Valley.

Altogether the project was slated to cost at $3.5 million which will help benefit the region.

Not all debtors are criminal, with SPER responsible for the collection and enforcement of unpaid infringement notice fines, court-ordered penalties, offender debt recovery orders and offender levies.

The pool of debtors and the amount owed to SPER in Warwick has decreased since 2014.

In September, 2014, more than 1700 people owed $3.1 million.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the state's total number of unpaid penalties registered with SPER was more than $1 billion.

About 720,000 people and companies owe money - 500,000 of them are in Queensland.

"On average about 40% of unpaid debts are under payment arrangements and about 30% are under enforcement," Mr Pitt said.

"The remaining 30% are either new debt referred to SPER, between processes, or under special and hardship support consideration."

Go to warwickdailynews.com.auto see our interactive map comparing Warwick's debt to other regions.

- APN NEWSDESK

SPER DEBT

Allora: 135 people owe $237,000

Clifton: 140 people owe $238,000

Inglewood: 160 people owe $418,000

Killarney: 74 people owe $71,000

Leyburn: 44 people owe $69,000

Stanthorpe: 1309 people owe $1.5 million

Warwick: 1583 people owe $2.69 million

Data accurate as at November 30, 2015

Source: Queensland Government