AARTO Fines
The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) policy, as well as the related AARTO fines, has been subject to much misinformation and speculation over the years since it became a factor. Recent speeches made by Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele, however, made one thing clear – that government fully intends to implement the system. The AARTO Act was passed back in 1998 but was only declared to be in force on a trial period in the Tshwane/ Johannesburg areas in 2008, and without the demerit aspect.
By December 2010 AARTO was still not enforced in any other area but at this stage it seems that the government intends to roll the ‘new policy’ out across the country during 2011. Once this has been implemented the points-demerit system will also come into play as declared by the Government Gazette. Many critics have confessed concern over the perceived nature of AARTO to presume a party guilty before proven to be so, though no government response to this has been forthcoming as yet.
Under AARTO, traffic fines can be converted to criminal offences and then lead to civil proceedings, possibly resulting in an arrest warrant. As a further penalty and point of great concern to fleet owners, a sheriff of the court will also be empowered to seize your moveable assets in order to cover your fines. A saving grace in this regard is that debt collectors will not be permitted to take advantage of this system, putting some fears to rest on the matter.
Contact Us at SASM for more information on how to manage AARTO in your organisation.
This has made it clear that understanding AARTO fines as they may pertain to you, is at this stage of vital importance.
Author : SASM
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