[May 2013..Dec 2013] The Gauteng E-tolling Thread

[MKFrost]

I noticed that SANRAL says we must pay within 7 days.

That is a big problem. I'm from Cape Town. If I go to JHB for business for say a week that will mean that by the time I leave I'm already overdue for the gantries I passed on my way into JHB.

Also, with not all the prices being shown at each gantry how do I know what to pay?

So I guess I must carry a detailed pricing list with me in the car and a notebook. I can then stop at each gantry and record what I owe and then make sure I pay that before I leave for Cape Town again....

And if I do not do that I'm a criminal. My taxes last year for my company and myself were in excess of 8 figures yet I'm going to end up being a criminal because of R100 odd rand....

Zuma, ANC, SANRAL... GFY

 

[DJ...]

Without an invoice, how do I know how much to pay?

It is your responsibility. If you pass a gantry, it is up to you to go to an e-toll outlet within 7 days and pay your total outstanding balance to them, on the spot. Or else...

 

[DJ...]

Your email didn't bounce ?

Yes, it did. Still looking for another address to send it to, or I print it and fax it, but then I have absolutely no idea whether it's actually going to be delivered...

 

[LazyLion]

Without an invoice, how do I know how much to pay?

You should know that you went under a gantry.
You just go to their offices and give them your car's license number and they will tell you how much to pay.

 

[Priapus]

It is your responsibility. If you pass a gantry, it is up to you to go to an e-toll outlet within 7 days and pay your total outstanding balance to them, on the spot. Or else...

Right... so, every week I must go to an eToll outlet to pay my outstanding fines.Is that what you're saying?

How does anyone have time for that??

Can someone maybe clear up for me exactly what happens if I just tell SANRAL to bugger off and I don't pay at all?
Not the "You go to jail bit" more like what steps do SANRAL need to take to get me there?

 

[Wyzak]

Without an invoice, how do I know how much to pay?

Theoretically you know which gantries you passed under and you can lookup their costs.

You should know that you went under a gantry.
You just go to their offices and give them your car's license number and they will tell you how much to pay.

Just make damn sure you don't use an e-toll route to get there, or you will get stuck in an infinite loop.

 

[DJ...]

For once the Post Office will be our friend and go on strike again for a few months.

I don't believe that they are bound by that any longer. I believe that the onus has shifted to motorists to be aware of, and pay, their outstanding balances with 7 days of transgression. So basically, if you travel to work each day, you have to travel to an e-toll outlet to confirm your balance, object if necessary, and make payments, every fscking day of your life, according to them...

 

[daveza]

See here for a possible scenario made up by one commentator...
http://www.news24.com/MyNews24/E-Tol...sions-20131010

Citizens who are deemed to be too far in arrears, and those without number plates, are arrested on the spot. You do not have an e-tag, you have flouted the regulations for six months, and you are nicked.

Your mobile is confiscated and sealed in a bag, and you are seated in a bus with 24 other people.

24 people, how about a few thousand ! Including granny, mommy-to-be about to pop ... there will be riots that make the 80's look like a happy time.

Some weeks later, you have your day in court, and are found guilty.

How about some years later.

 

[DJ...]

Right... so, every week I must go to an eToll outlet to pay my outstanding fines.Is that what you're saying?

How does anyone have time for that??

Can someone maybe clear up for me exactly what happens if I just tell SANRAL to bugger off and I don't pay at all?
Not the "You go to jail bit" more like what steps do SANRAL need to take to get me there?

No, if you travel to work every day, you will have to travel to an e-toll booth every single day as well. You can try to do it once a week, but that rolling window catches up fast. Let's say the booth is offline, or you have to go out of town for a few days? You're fscked unless you're up to date already. Leaving it until the last day to pay is just looking for trouble.

They want you to pay every bloody day.

Fsck them...

 

[MKFrost]

See here for a possible scenario made up by one commentator...
http://www.news24.com/MyNews24/E-Tol...sions-20131010

Link not working...

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Right... so, every week I must go to an eToll outlet to pay my outstanding fines.Is that what you're saying?

How does anyone have time for that??

That's why they're recommending you buy an e-Tag and give them unfettered access to your bank account. You know, for your convenience.

Can someone maybe clear up for me exactly what happens if I just tell SANRAL to bugger off and I don't pay at all?
Not the "You go to jail bit" more like what steps do SANRAL need to take to get me there?

http://businesstech.co.za/news/general/47183/what-if-you-dont-pay-e-tolls/

- Although the toll system is a pre-paid system, a road user has a seven-day grace period, from a gantry pass , to pay their e-toll transactions;
- If the e-toll transaction is not paid within seven days, it is transferred to the Violations Processing Centre (the section of e-toll operations that deals with overdue toll amounts);
- Due to the user’s status as an Alternative User, discounts (e-tag, frequent user and time of day) are no longer applied and the Alternative Toll Tariff applies.
- Transactions are rolled up and an invoice is issued to the road user;
- A road user is then given an opportunity to settle his/her e-toll transactions and depending on the time within which the toll transactions are paid, post Grace Period Discounts might apply;
- During that time, a debt collection process takes place;
- Once it appears that the debt collection process is unsuccessful, a Final Demand will be issued and the issue handed over to the prosecuting authority;
- Prosecution will be done in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act and/or Aarto pending when and where it will be implemented.

 

[Wyzak]

Right... so, every week I must go to an eToll outlet to pay my outstanding fines.Is that what you're saying?

How does anyone have time for that??

Can someone maybe clear up for me exactly what happens if I just tell SANRAL to bugger off and I don't pay at all?
Not the "You go to jail bit" more like what steps do SANRAL need to take to get me there?

They will open a criminal case against you (not sure with what charge) at the Police station. The Police will investigate and charge you with the crime. You will have to apply for bail. You will then appear in court and the judge will rule on the matter. Then you go to jail.

That is a big problem. I'm from Cape Town. If I go to JHB for business for say a week that will mean that by the time I leave I'm already overdue for the gantries I passed on my way into JHB.

Also, with not all the prices being shown at each gantry how do I know what to pay?

Yep that is a big problem, I have taken them to the advertising standards authority because they only show the cheapest price at the gantries. The ASA copped out and said they don't have jurisdiction.

For once the Post Office will be our friend and go on strike again for a few months.

No it won't be. See the posts above about the onus that rests with you. The Post office will throw away the public correspondence letters so that they only arrive after the 30 days have passed.

 

[daveza]

Heard something interesting yesterday about the taxis - apparently they only get a free ride between the gantries that are on their ' allowed route'.

So if they travel on the toll road they will have to pay - how are they going to administrate that ?!

 

[Jola]

So if you go to their offices once a week to pay, then yo..u should be fine.

But will they be able to pull up your costs on demand ? I doubt it, remember,

 

[MKFrost]

So I assume that nobody from JHB will come to holiday in Cape Town anymore.......

Leave JHB on way to CT......
Turn back to pay e-tolls incurred on way out.....
Drive back out.....

Rince and repeat...

Seriously though... that will mean anybody on holiday for more than 5 odd days will risk becoming a criminal....

 

[LazyLion]

Link not working...

http://www.news24.com/MyNews24/E-Tolls-Be-Under-No-Illusions-20131010

 

[SoulTax]

They will open a criminal case against you (not sure with what charge) at the Police station. The Police will investigate and charge you with the crime. You will have to apply for bail. You will then appear in court and the judge will rule on the matter. Then you go to jail.

I say let them try. The police will be far too busy to chase the thousands of "criminally charged" residents per station. I have been served papers before by the cops, Just ignore them at your gate. If they try to send registered post, ignore that too. I would advise anyone to open up a private PO box that does not get issued out to anyone but family who are sending gifts or something. That way you can differentiate between potential summons parcels and personal ones. If you have more than one house, register your car with the one that you don't live in. That gives them the run around even more.

 

[MKFrost]

I say let them try. The police will be far too busy to chase the thousands of "criminally charged" residents per station. I have been served papers before by the cops, Just ignore them at your gate. If they try to send registered post, ignore that too. I would advise anyone to open up a private PO box that does not get issued out to anyone but family who are sending gifts or something. That way you can differentiate between potential summons parcels and personal ones. If you have more than one house, register your car with the one that you don't live in. That gives them the run around even more.

Yes you can do that but your problem is going to be the road blocks. Read that article in the link provided earlier.

Edit: Wanted to add, they are not going to chase after you, you are going to drive right to them i.e. road block

 

[DJ...]

I say let them try. The police will be far too busy to chase the thousands of "criminally charged" residents per station.

Have you not seen their operational budget? R2.2bn per annum. 2.2BN fscking ronds! They want their own specialised unit. How the hell they get away with this is beyond me. They fund a unit of SAPS? No, that is illegal. I cannot go around and fund a public entity to simply beat to my drum. They are employed by Sanral themselves? Well then we're privatising policing in the country. Not constitutional. But they're pushing ahead with it nonetheless. They bought a bunch of fancy cars two years ago specifically for this purpose. The unit has now become a part of the specialised mobile traffic unit. They've also allocated budget for this purpose.

It's just flagrant abuse of tax payers on every front. Abuse of our money, and paying to be abused by the ANC...

 

[daveza]

Seriously though... that will mean anybody on holiday for more than 5 odd days will risk becoming a criminal....

Unless you are on holiday here from Namibia, Botswana or Zim - I can't see them checking your e-toll outstandings at the border.