I'm an idiot - what do to about fines?

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pietpr

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I've got two situations I need help with.

Firstly I got a legitimate fine (it was me) and they served a summons to my domestic worker (I never signed for it, but she did). Court day is approaching fast but its already too late to pay - what can/should I do about this?


Secondly I got an illegitimate fine (it WASN'T me) but due to me being an idiot (see above) I signed the summons without checking it, its some other dude (I don't own a Mazda and haven't been to Khayalitsha in a while). What can/should I do about this?

Any experience appreciated!
 
pietpr said:
I've got two situations I need help with.

Firstly I got a legitimate fine (it was me) and they served a summons to my domestic worker (I never signed for it, but she did). Court day is approaching fast but its already too late to pay - what can/should I do about this?


Secondly I got an illegitimate fine (it WASN'T me) but due to me being an idiot (see above) I signed the summons without checking it, its some other dude (I don't own a Mazda and haven't been to Khayalitsha in a while). What can/should I do about this?

Any experience appreciated!
Click to expand...

1st one, go to court and pay it.... BEFORE the court date.. ignore when it says you can pay/not pay..

2nd one, go to court, see public prosecutor and get it squashed.
 
OK thanks - I'll have to head down there.

Just out of curiosity what happens if these get ignored? Hypothetically if my domestic worker just threw them in the garbage?
 
They'd probably arrest you at some road block, but even then they give you a chance to settle without going to court or real jail.
 
R13... said:
They'd probably arrest you at some road block, but even then they give you a chance to settle without going to court or real jail.
Click to expand...

Not sure how it rolls in other parts of SA...

But I've had experience with this.. Summons was signed for by someone other than me, and just thrown away. I ended up missing the court date (obviously), and had a phone call from a pleasant police officer about a week later telling me what has happened and that a warrant of arrest had been issued for me and if I didn't want to have to deal with all that drama that I should just go to the magistrates court, pay the fine and the contempt of court fee was added on to it. Ended up costing me R100 extra.
 
I had a similar situation a while back. I received a fine for an expired license but it wasn't for me. It was for an Isuzu bakkie (I drive a Polo) but it was my registration number that was on the fine. I sent the traffic department a letter stating as such and that I thought was the end of it.

Last year, I went to go renew my license and was told there's a warrant of arrest against my name. The traffic department hadn't sorted out this issue and since it had been going on for so long, my court date had come and gone and I was no in contempt of court. I went to the Greenpoint traffic department (who admitted to there being a capture issue by the officer who wrote the fine) and they gave me all the paperwork.

From there it was around to the Wynberg Magistrate's Court to see the public prosecutor who squashed the fine, but told me I was still liable for the contempt of court fine which I could either pay, or go fight in court. I decided to rather just pay it and get it over with.

Bottom line is get it sorted before the court date as even if you're not liable for the fine, you still will be for your appearance (or lack thereof) in court.
 
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