Demerit points won’t be added to your licence immediately – here’s how it works
Earlier this month, the Kenyan government announced that while its new centralised database was live, motorists would be spared instant fines that come with the smart card due to a pending court case.
South Africa’s incoming demerit system and central database share many similarities with the that of Kenya’s, but the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) has confirmed to BusinessTech that demerits won’t be instantaneous.
The AARTO system uses a central database (called the National Road Traffic Offence Register) to record the infringements committed by the alleged infringers, the group said.
“Once the infringement is registered on the system, the alleged infringer has 32 days to react by either payment, nomination of the person in charge of the vehicle at the time of the infringement, or by applying to pay in a installment,” it said.
It stated that while it was previously possible to make a representation or elect to go to court over the fine, this option has been removed through the new laws.
“The infringement stays as an allegation until one of the activities as described below has taken place.”
The demerit points will only be allocated against a person’s driving license when:
- The person admits by paying the penalty;
- When the person is found guilty in a court of law or;
- When an enforcement order is authorized against that person’s identity number.
According to the agency, motorist will be notified of every infringement, which will show the associated demerit points to be allocated when one of the activities as described above have happened.
In addition, infringers may apply to the agency for their record of demerit points, it said.
“Such record can only be made available to the concerned infringer and no one else.
“Traffic officers will also have no access to the records of motorists.”
Read: Businesses need to be very worried about the new demerit system
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