Traffic fine - Eastern Cape - Advice needed

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Milou

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Hi all, travelling through the Eastern Cape in December I, along with four other drivers, was pulled to the side of the road. A traffic officer walked passed asking for our licences which of course I gave to him - naively assuming that he was checking the validity of such. What transpired though was a fine of R2 500 for crossing a barrier line (the other four vehicles presumably having done so as well). The fine itself appears to be in the form of a summons ("written notice to appear in court") in that if I dont pay the fine by 17 Feb I have to appear in the magistrates court in Mount Ayliff on 3 March. I obviously transgressed and while not having a problem paying a fine for doing so I do have problem with the amount. I could go down to Mount Ayliff to see the prosecutor - it's a distance and expense though (I live in Pmb) to ask for a reduction and there is of course no guarantee that he/she will be in on that particular day. I could wait for the 3 March and appear in court. Never having done this kind of thing before I would imagine that I could well end up paying the full amount (plus traveling expense, time off work) and possibly even a further penalty? I could also ignore it bearing in mind that the fine has all my details including home address, ID number, registration number and make of car. I would then presumably be opening myself to subsequent arrest? Perhaps just pay it and move on? Not a good time of year for to be paying out this kind of money though. :(
Any advice or thoughts on the matter would be much appreciated. Thanks.
 
I got a similar fine around the same time just outside of Grahamstown - the car in front and I overtook a slow moving truck but we crossed the double yellow lines and both got pulled over. Fine was only R1000 though so I just paid it.
 
Can’t you write a letter to the prosecutor and ask for leniency?
 
LaraC said:
Can’t you write a letter to the prosecutor and ask for leniency?
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You should try this or even phone the office of the prosecutor if you can get him to reduce the fine and just pay it and obey the law in future.
 
Seems like quite a hefty amount. I wonder if they were trying to use the large amount to see if you would offer a bribe.
 
One of the fellows who was also pulled over asked if there was a possibility of a spot fine. Traffic officer was adamant to go by the book. Interestingly, he did write a bank account number on my fine should I somehow be wanting to deposit the money there immediately!
 
LaraC said:
Can’t you write a letter to the prosecutor and ask for leniency?
Click to expand...

Thought about doing this. Postal services and rural Eastern Cape possible stumbling blocks. Also, traffic officer did say that if I wanted leniency I had to go to the prosecutor in person...
 
Milou said:
One of the fellows who was also pulled over asked if there was a possibility of a spot fine. Traffic officer was adamant to go by the book. Interestingly, he did write a bank account number on my fine should I somehow be wanting to deposit the money there immediately!
Click to expand...

Oddly enough I couldn't pay my fine online - I had to go through the schlep of getting a bank guaranteed cheque, which cost me R80, and then sending it to G'town via courier, then having it returned because I sent it to the wrong DoJ post bag (the handwriting on the ticket was barely legible, and then sending it back to G'Town… By the time it went back the second time I think I missed the cut off date - haven't had the cheque returned again so we'll have to see what happens.
 
Raphael123 said:
You should try this or even phone the office of the prosecutor if you can get him to reduce the fine and just pay it and obey the law in future.
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The irony is that when it comes to driving I am one of the most law abiding citizens one can find. I still dont know where this actual offence took place and can only assume that I crossed the barrier line to avoid a potentially dangerous situation (and it was safe to do so).
 
Milou said:
Thought about doing this. Postal services and rural Eastern Cape possible stumbling blocks. Also, traffic officer did say that if I wanted leniency I had to go to the prosecutor in person...
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You could fax the letter if the postal services is not reliable. Seeing the prosecutor in person is not a prerequisite.
 
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bwana said:
Oddly enough I couldn't pay my fine online - I had to go through the schlep of getting a bank guaranteed cheque, which cost me R80, and then sending it to G'town via courier, then having it returned because I sent it to the wrong DoJ post bag (the handwriting on the ticket was barely legible, and then sending it back to G'Town… By the time it went back the second time I think I missed the cut off date - haven't had the cheque returned again so we'll have to see what happens.
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It seems that only certain municipalities have that online option. The small print on my fine says I can pay at a police station as long as it is in cash...
 
Milou said:
It seems that only certain municipalities have that online option. The small print on my fine says I can pay at a police station as long as it is in cash...
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The small print on mine has the option to pay at "any police station in the district" but that was crossed out - even so I probably wouldn't have driven there to do so - the courier was cheaper.
 
LaraC said:
You could fax the letter if the postal services is not reliable. Seeing the prosecutor in person is not a prerequisite.
Click to expand...

Ah, thanks for this. Along with the bank account number a fax number was written. This will be the route to go I think. Still have a window period of a few weeks. If no success will pay. Too much stress otherwise :-(
 
bwana said:
The small print on mine has the option to pay at "any police station in the district" but that was crossed out - even so I probably wouldn't have driven there to do so - the courier was cheaper.
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Just had another look at the small print and you're right - it's a police station in the district which also makes the courier a much cheaper option. Damn.
 
Milou said:
Just had another look at the small print and you're right - it's a police station in the district which also makes the courier a much cheaper option. Damn.
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You'd think they'd offer as many different payment options as possible but nooooo…
 
Yep thats the modus operandi, they stay in specific locations not because is a accident zone but because of slow traffic , then they throw you the big amount and if you are open, you can get away with Coke and chips money :-) . I had similar incident in Mpumalanga and the car on front of me with MP no plate was let go, my GP looked more lucrative ... (or the other driver is local knowing the scam).We were both overtaking a truck when the line was broken , then just before we pulled to left ,apeared arrows suggesting that the solid line follows and there were the traffics.. waving at us, Then I tried to argue that I was already overtaking when the arrows appear with no success,
I am on the market for good DashCam to have proof ,But kind of Garmin one that records also your speed...
By the way , where one can find the amount of the traffic fines for different offences , Are the fines same across different provancess or they differ??
 
Rocket-Boy said:
Seems like quite a hefty amount. I wonder if they were trying to use the large amount to see if you would offer a bribe.
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The amount must abide to the Traffic Law Enforcement Offence Code Book as per the revision on the date of the contravention, each province has its own approved fine amount per contravention. In the Western Cape this fine will be R1500.
 
bwana said:
You'd think they'd offer as many different payment options as possible but nooooo…
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Hehe... "Not only are we going to give you big fine, we are going to make it very difficult for you to pay it." :-(
 
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