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Fines for minor traffic offences between 1 November 2008 and 11 February have been scrapped. If you've already paid, you'll get a refund.
THERE'S good news for some motorists who were issued fines during the festive season: fines issued for minor offences have been cancelled.
"Fines issued in Johannesburg between 1 November 2008 and 11 February 2009 for less serious offences were cancelled due to a gap in legislation," said Gerrie Gerneke, the director of licensing prosecutions and municipal courts in the metro police.
This was because the fines were not implemented in terms of the new Administration Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (Aarto). Gerneke said 182 158 motorists qualified to claim their fines, amounting to R32-million.
Applications for refunds only applied to minor offences, which excluded drunken driving and exceeding the speed limit. Gerneke added that motorists who had already paid fines issued during this period could apply for a refund, and they would be refunded by cheque as soon as their application was processed.
"The refunds will be done in reasonable time. It will not be longer than a month," he said.
According to a joint statement issued by the Joburg metro police and the Road Traffic Management Corporation, there was a loophole in legislation during this period as one traffic law - the Criminal Procedures Act - had been scrapped and the other - Aarto - had not been applied yet.
It had been announced that Aarto would be implemented in Johannesburg from 1 November 2008. However, the chief executive officer of the Road Traffic Management Corporation, Ranthoko Rakgoale, explained: "The Johannesburg municipality could not implement the Aarto as proclaimed due to problems experienced with the level of development of support systems."
The Aarto system had not failed and would never fail, he said. It was just a problem of implementing the law.
Application forms for refunds of traffic fines that have been cancelled are available at licensing departments across Joburg and on the Payfine website.
Motorists can also write a letter to the metro police with the necessary proof of payment attached and fax it to 011 381 9575. For more information or help, contact the call centre on 011 836 0166.
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