Motorists risk being penalised for infringements they didn't commit under AARTO, says OUTA

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mylesillidge

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South African motorists must get ready to receive fines for traffic offences they did not commit

Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) CEO Wayne Duvenage has warned that South African motorists risk being penalised for infringements they didn't commit under the country's new traffic laws.

Duvenage warned that number plate cloning happens frequently in South Africa, which could cause severe problems under the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system.
 
So as a company owner, with more than ten company vehicles, it means that every infringement happening on any one of those vehicles will result in demerit points added to my tally. So I have to go through the hassle of finding the driver and the infringement date, and then forwarding that info to AARTO? Just more admin PT for me. And how quickly do you think AARTO is going act on that info? My licence will probably be suspended in the first year.

Almost better to just let the demerits accumulate, and hire a private driver to Chauffer me around. So I can just ignore all the traffic offences posted to my company, and never have to worry about any of my drivers getting demerits.

Do you see the loophole in the system?
 
LazyLion said:
So as a company owner, with more than ten company vehicles, it means that every infringement happening on any one of those vehicles will result in demerit points added to my tally. So I have to go through the hassle of finding the driver and the infringement date, and then forwarding that info to AARTO? Just more admin PT for me. And how quickly do you think AARTo is going act on that info? My licence will probably be suspended in the first year.
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The ANC cant think further than their fat mouths stuck on the gravy boat
 
LazyLion said:
So as a company owner, with more than ten company vehicles, it means that every infringement happening on any one of those vehicles will result in demerit points added to my tally. So I have to go through the hassle of finding the driver and the infringement date, and then forwarding that info to AARTO? Just more admin PT for me. And how quickly do you think AARTO is going act on that info? My licence will probably be suspended in the first year.

Almost better to just let the demerits accumulate, and hire a private driver to Chauffer me around. So I can just ignore all the traffic offences posted to my company, and never have to worry about any of my drivers getting demerits.

Do you see the loophole in the system?
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Yes, this has been my main complaint, this doesn't penalise the driver, but the owner of the vehicle. This has been the case in JHB since 2011, just the point part was never brought online.
 
It's the perfect loophole. Every large company just appoints one person to be the Representative for ALL their company vehicles. Then that person racks up all the demerits and his licence gets cancelled. But from then on all the companies vehicles and drivers are exempt from demerits. And all they have to do is appoint a chauffer for that person.

In my case it's great, because my wife drives one of the company vehicles. She can drive me around on weekends and holidays. And the company chauffer drives me around during business hours. And both of them can drive however they want to, because all the demerits will come to me.
 
LazyLion said:
It's the perfect loophole. Every large company just appoints one person to be the Representative for ALL their company vehicles. Then that person racks up all the demerits and his licence gets cancelled. But from then on all the companies vehicles and drivers are exempt from demerits. And all they have to do is appoint a chauffer for that person.

In my case it's great, because my wife drives one of the company vehicles. She can drive me around on weekends and holidays. And the company chauffer drives me around during business hours. And both of them can drive however they want to, because all the demerits will come to me.
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Just assign the owner of the vehicle as someone without a license. As remember you don't actually require a license to own a vehicle.
 
LazyLion said:
So as a company owner, with more than ten company vehicles, it means that every infringement happening on any one of those vehicles will result in demerit points added to my tally. So I have to go through the hassle of finding the driver and the infringement date, and then forwarding that info to AARTO? Just more admin PT for me. And how quickly do you think AARTO is going act on that info? My licence will probably be suspended in the first year.
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In fairness, the old system under the CPA resulted in fines paid being recorded against the registered owner. For any serious matters, the registered owner would redirect the fine to the driver. Some did a sworn redirection for all fines which were driver's responsibility.

The demerit system certainly complicates matters but the process for most would stay the same?

I'm not too clued on the specifics of the relief OUTA seeks but it would've probably been more beneficial to ask for relief for all offenses that weren't attended in person. That way there's no question of identity and who the demerit point is allocated to...
 
In principle it's good, but not thought through at all, just steam rollerled through as always, just to show the anc is the sh*t!! No care for the country's people as always and when someone takes them to court or criticize them they play dum or play the defensive tactics! Welcome to SA! :X3::mad::eek::unsure::ROFL:SA is a movie on its own, with all the genres mixed in one movie.....
 
LazyLion said:
Even better! Great idea.

Come on MyBroadband, you guys really need to write an article on this!
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If I understand correctly, demerits will eventually accumulate and the registered owner will have a block placed on enatis that prevents them from renewing their vehicles licence disc, registering new vehicles etc.. theres also the monetary fines that would still need to be paid..

Think there's a 30 something day time limit within which you should be redirecting the fine to the driver responsible for it..

Eventually RTIA can also get a warrant of execution and impound or sell your car to cover unpaid fines and administrative costs..
 
WAslayer said:
If I understand correctly, demerits will eventually accumulate and the registered owner will have a block placed on enatis that prevents them from renewing their vehicles licence disc, registering new vehicles etc.. theres also the monetary fines that would still need to be paid..

Think there's a 30 something day time limit within which you should be redirecting the fine to the driver responsible for it..

Eventually RTIA can also get a warrant of execution and impound or sell your car to cover unpaid fines and administrative costs..
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If the taxis can get away without being affected by this... so can we.
 
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