South Africa cracking down on motorists who use fake vehicle licence disks

Daniel Puchert

Daniel Puchert

Journalist
Staff member
Joined
Mar 6, 2024
Messages
1,062
Reaction score
843
South Africa's big licence disc problem

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) is cracking down on motorists, including large trucking companies, using fraudulent vehicle licence discs.

Speaking to SABC News, RTMC CEO Makhosini Msibi said the entity had more than R2.1 billion in fiscal losses relating to fraudulent licence discs.
 
It's 2024, why is there even a need for a physical disc? Verifying whether a vehicle has an updated license should be as simple as scanning the number plate of the vehicle and checking it against the Natis database.
 
PaulMurkin said:
Because fake plates are a thing, a real problem apparently!
Click to expand...

That's even more reason to switch over to digital-only vehicle licenses. Forcing law enforcement to scan license plates will immediately reveal cloned plates when the VIN and engine numbers don't match up.
 
A trucking company that is saving money by not paying for vehicle licenses is almost certainly saving on maintenance as well. Good luck to them when they have to roadworthy these impounded vehicles before licensing them again.
 
deweyzeph said:
That's even more reason to switch over to digital-only vehicle licenses. Forcing law enforcement to scan license plates will immediately reveal cloned plates when the VIN and engine numbers don't match up.
Click to expand...
So that means a physical check would be needed. How do you scan the other items from a distance? There is no requirement worldwide that the VIN be machine readable over a distance. It is, however, machine readable from a short distance from the windscreen
 
PaulMurkin said:
So that means a physical check would be needed. How do you scan the other items from a distance? There is no requirement worldwide that the VIN be machine readable over a distance. It is, however, machine readable from a short distance from the windscreen
Click to expand...

A physical check would be needed anyway to check a paper disc.
 
deweyzeph said:
It's 2024, why is there even a need for a physical disc? Verifying whether a vehicle has an updated license should be as simple as scanning the number plate of the vehicle and checking it against the Natis database.
Click to expand...
They can see at a glance whether it's expired, what class vehicle it's for etc. without needing to scan every car.
 
saor said:
They can see at a glance whether it's expired, what class vehicle it's for etc. without needing to scan every car.
Click to expand...

Sure, but if it's a fake paper disc then what use is that? The only way to verify the authenticity of the disc is to run it through the system, but if you're running it through the system anyway then what is the point of the paper disc?
 
deweyzeph said:
Sure, but if it's a fake paper disc then what use is that? The only way to verify the authenticity of the disc is to run it through the system, but if you're running it through the system anyway then what is the point of the paper disc?
Click to expand...
My guess is there's still enough legal discs to make the windscreen inspection practical for the most part but ja - if they're going to scan it every time then I agree.
 
saor said:
My guess is there's still enough legal discs to make the windscreen inspection practical for the most part but ja - if they're going to scan it every time then I agree.
Click to expand...

I don't know about other provinces but in Cape Town and the Western Cape the traffic cops all have handheld digital scanners. First thing they do when you get pulled over is scan the disc and then scan your drivers licence. I'm sure those devices could just as easily scan the VIN number at the bottom of your windscreen and get the same result.
 
deweyzeph said:
I don't know about other provinces but in Cape Town and the Western Cape the traffic cops all have handheld digital scanners. First thing they do when you get pulled over is scan the disc and then scan your drivers licence. I'm sure those devices could just as easily scan the VIN number at the bottom of your windscreen and get the same result.
Click to expand...

In JHB, at most roadblocks they just visually check the expiry of the license disc and wave you through.

There are some (not many I have come across) where they take you license and run that for outstanding fines.
 
I don't get it. The best they can come up with is discs that expired this year. So it's not like there's some major unroadworthiness issue and at some point when they are renewed there's going to be major extra revenue.
 
Asking for a friend; what are the approximate penalties should you have two very similar vehicles, never on the road at the same time, but only one licence disc?
 
Oldfut said:
Asking for a friend; what are the approximate penalties should you have two very similar vehicles, never on the road at the same time, but only one licence disc?
Click to expand...

I don't know what the current penalty is as it is not something I have to worry about.

So, you are asking what should the penalty for fraud be....
 
CommonSense said:
I don't know what the current penalty is as it is not something I have to worry about.

So, you are asking what should the penalty for fraud be....
Click to expand...

It's not just the fines on the side of the road and possible charges of fraud he should be worried about. People forget there are also administrative penalties charged every month that your disc is overdue that eventually lead to an administrative mark being put against your ID number in the Natis system that will prevent you from renewing any disc for any vehicle as well as renewing your drivers licence.
 
Last edited:
CommonSense said:
I don't know what the current penalty is as it is not something I have to worry about.

So, you are asking what should the penalty for fraud be....
Click to expand...
It's not actually fraud as the disc is legally issued.
 
Daniel Puchert said:
South Africa's big licence disc problem

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) is cracking down on motorists, including large trucking companies, using fraudulent vehicle licence discs.

Speaking to SABC News, RTMC CEO Makhosini Msibi said the entity had more than R2.1 billion in fiscal losses relating to fraudulent licence discs.
Click to expand...
Let me get onto spreading the message to the actual fraudsters who don't read MyBB!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter