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Payfine, the new website launched by Joburg's metro police, makes checking your traffic fines - and paying them - a doddle.
Wayne Minnaar, the metro police spokesperson
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FTER testing several ways of making it more convenient for motorists to pay their traffic fines, the Johannesburg metropolitan police department (JMPD) has opted for a new, user-friendly website. JMPD officially launched its Payfine website on Tuesday, 19 June. Motorists are able to check all their offences online; they can also pay their fines in real time, with no delays.
Payfine replaces the department's short message service (SMS), which allowed motorists to check whether they had any outstanding fines. That service was discontinued on Wednesday, 13 June.
"The website is very secure and easy for everybody to use," said Wayne Minnaar, the chief superintendent at the JMPD.
The system only recognises full payments, meaning that motorists are expected to pay the full amount they have been fined. In addition, photographs of the vehicle committing the offence are sent with the fine under a new system put into place to complement the new payment system.
Motorists can now log on and see all their fines - and make direct payments. "The website only requires people to register by supplying an identity number. Registration is free," Minnaar explained.
Once a user had logged on, they could look at the photographs that came up linked to their identity numbers.
There are number of initiatives that the JMPD is implementing to increase traffic fine payments. "The measures will be implemented to raise payment levels from 33 percent to 60 percent within the next few years," he said.
To reach the 60 percent target, a special squad was established to trace the top 100 offenders. They will visit offenders at their offices and arrest them if they don't pay up.
An innovative step is the introduction of automatic number plate recognition machines at roadblocks. The machines help metro police to track down vehicles with outstanding fines or with false addresses.
"Motorists will be able to settle their fines at the roadblocks. Failure to make the payment will lead to an arrest," Minnaar explained.
To check your fines, log on to the Payfine website, and pay up online at the same time.
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