South Africa heading towards demerit system…
Public comment on an AARTO Amendment Bill (administrative adjudication of road traffic offences) is being called for, the Bill eventually to be tabled by the Minister of Transport, geared to back up current road laws and strengthen compliance by facilitating payment of traffic fines. A system of “demerit points” is envisaged for offenders, a system which would it is assumed be linked into the e-NaTis traffic control IT system.
The draft Bil is geared, it says, for a national roll-out, a scheme having been in operation in pilot form in both Tshwane and Johannesburg until now. Paying by cheques or queuing up at a municipal office maybe a thing of the past once the electronic aspects have been legalised and regulations brought in.
Another govt. agency to be formed
The background to the draft says that the proposed Bill aims to “strengthen compliance with road traffic laws and facilitate the payment of traffic fines”. The bill will also introduce measures that “allow for the effective adjudication of traffic infringements with a Road Traffic Infringement Agency being established to give more back up to the mandate given to the authorities.
Whilst the currently established traffic authorities will remain responsible for bringing offenders to court, the Agency will maintain records of road users that have failed to pay fines, review appeals by infringers and provide rehabilitation programmes for serial infringers.
The proposed legislation also clarifies the process whereby non-compliant offenders are served with a warrant issued by a magistrate’s court.
Paying fines by EFT coming
The bill also seeks to put in place electronic forms of communication. The department of transport are calling for public input until 22 March.
An investigation has been called for Parliament’s portfolio committee on transport on facts that emerged from the Auditor General’s report on the department of transport that the e-NaTis contract was renewed for a further period with the existing outside contractors without ministerial consent.
