Traffic fine collection goes high-tech
The City of Cape Town has increased its traffic fine revenue from around R5m a month in 2004 to over R13m a month, thanks to better administration and revenue collection systems.
“That adds up to an extra R100m a year for the council,” says Shaheed Mohammed, TCS chief executive officer.
“In most of South Africa’s cities only about 20-30% of traffic fines ever actually get paid. In Cape Town we have managed to increase that to 60% in some instances, thanks to improved technology systems and effective management by the city.”
Making it easier and more convenient to pay fines has been an important part of this success, says Mohamed.
“Five years ago the only way to pay a traffic fine was to visit a traffic office and pay it in person,” he says.
“Now motorists can pay fines at supermarkets, the Post Office, banks or online, as well as viewing their fines and supporting photographs at our web site http://www.viewfines.co.za/. When payment is more convenient, more people pay.”
While Cape Town is its flagship project, TCS works with 116 of the 283 municipalities around the country. It is poised to expand its operations substantially with the implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (AARTO) which will set up a consistent national system of traffic fines and administration to replace the current fragmented system. AARTO’s intended national roll out is scheduled for October 2009.
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