AARTO Goes Ahead
Transport minister Sbu Ndebele has confirmed that the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act – ending hopeful speculation from some corners that the Act would fail to pass after the tests conducted in Johannesburg – has been concluded. From parliamentary comments it appears that the issues regarding the implementation of AARTO are now solved, from the government’s position.
With the now near certainty that the AARTO law will be rolled out nationally soon, many businesses and private individuals are scrambling for orientation to avoid receiving damaging fines. The transport ministry stated that AARTO and its points demerit system would be rolled out in the current financial year. The department noted that issues which were raised by stakeholders had been tended to and the act was now approaching the final stages before complete national rollout.
Minister Ndebele stated specific changes would be implemented to answer the issues raised by the shareholders and that these alterations would be adapted in order to:
• Tackle the inadequacies and deficiencies noted during the staging of AARTO pilot tests in Johannesburg and Tshwane
• Establish more organised and structured law enforcement of the act
• Prepare for a smooth national rollout
The ministry took counsel from state legal advisers to ensure that all bases were covered and it seems that, in terms of the public, ignorance of the AARTO Act will be no defence in Incurring demerit points against their licences for traffic violations committed.
Author : SASM
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