EMPD's Traffic Fine SMS notifications

[Foxhound5366]

Is this a new thing? I just got my very first SMS from EMPD, kindly warning me that I'd been zapped for speeding on the R21 (*cough* airport *cough*), and helpfully including a link to a mobile-optimised (will the wonders never cease) website through which I just had to enter my ID number and was then presented with a digital copy of my actual traffic infringement notice (complete with clear photos of 'the act') and a 'pay now' link (to Pay City).

I almost didn't even mind paying the fine, they made the whole experience so slick and friendly

 

[airborne]

Do they give you an option to wait for a summons and challenge it in court?

The day they manage to do digitally delivered summons we are screwed...

 

[Lupus]

Got one 2 years ago from a car that I sold

 

[Foxhound5366]

Do they give you an option to wait for a summons and challenge it in court?

The day they manage to do digitally delivered summons we are screwed...

Yeah it's the standard notice you get by mail or by hand, so it has your usual options. You don't have to pay the fine lol.

 

[LazyLion]

I don't think it's EMPD.
EMPD is selling their fines (as debt) to collection companies.
They started doing this about 3 years ago.
Probably because they were being ignored by the public on their own.
So they figured they might as well consolidate it and sell it to the collection companies.
I'm not even sure if that is legal.
But my advice is to ignore it. If you contact them it means you have acknowledge the debt and are now obligated to settle it.
These collection companies are pretending to be EMPD.
(Just like some collection companies are pretending to be the SABC to collect TV Licences).
You are fully entitled to ignore it until the present a summons, or until you need to renew your vehicle license disc or driver's license card.

 

[Foxhound5366]

I don't think it's EMPD.
EMPD is selling their fines (as debt) to collection companies.
They started doing this about 3 years ago.
Probably because they were being ignored by the public on their own.
So they figured they might as well consolidate it and sell it to the collection companies.
I'm not even sure if that is legal.
But my advice is to ignore it. If you contact them it means you have acknowledge the debt and are now obligated to settle it.
These collection companies are pretending to be EMPD.
(Just like some collection companies are pretending to be the SABC to collect TV Licences).
You are fully entitled to ignore it until the present a summons, or until you need to renew your vehicle license disc or driver's license card.

Nah it really is empd. The link in the SMS is fines.empd.co.za

 

[airborne]

I don't think it's EMPD.
EMPD is selling their fines (as debt) to collection companies.
They started doing this about 3 years ago.
Probably because they were being ignored by the public on their own.
So they figured they might as well consolidate it and sell it to the collection companies.
I'm not even sure if that is legal.
But my advice is to ignore it. If you contact them it means you have acknowledge the debt and are now obligated to settle it.
These collection companies are pretending to be EMPD.
(Just like some collection companies are pretending to be the SABC to collect TV Licences).
You are fully entitled to ignore it until the present a summons, or until you need to renew your vehicle license disc or driver's license card.

Can they prevent you from renewing your car license if you have outstanding fines that they haven't served a summons on yet?

 

[ToxicBunny]

Can they prevent you from renewing your car license if you have outstanding fines that they haven't served a summons on yet?

Nope... Has to have gone all the way through the process...

 

[ld13]

But my advice is to ignore it. If you contact them it means you have acknowledge the debt and are now obligated to settle it.

Erm, no. That is not how acknowledgement works ...

 

[airborne]

Nope... Has to have gone all the way through the process...

Is that also true in Cape Town?
I'm assuming it's true for all municipalities with Aarto systems integrated?