Traffic fines in SA: What you need to know about expiry, enforcement and disputes

702's Gugs Mhlungu spoke to resident motoring enthusiast, Warren Tucker.

Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.

From parking illegally, driving an unroadworthy vehicle, speeding, having an expired vehicle and driver's licence, to failing to comply with the Road Traffic Act - these are just some of the numerous fines South African motorists can face.

"...there's a whole range of fines that can get issued, but you normally get two kinds of fines...you'll get a fine that the traffic officer will give you...that's a section 56 notice, and then you'll get a fine that's normally a violation that's posted to you...where you've been caught with a traffic camera, and that's a section 341 notice. But apart from that, you also have AARTO, and you've got a fine that can be issued under the Criminal Procedures Act."

- Warren Tucker, motoring enthusiast 

Tucker points out that fines issued under the Criminal Procedure Act may expire after 18 months, but only if the motorist has not been summoned or properly notified. 

However, he adds, fines under the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act do not expire and remain active until settled.  

Tucker also warns about increased roadblock activity where officials use plate scanners to track outstanding fines. 

He emphasises that not all fines must be paid immediately on the spot.

"...unless there's a warrant outstanding, those fines, if they're still within the prescribed period for you to pay those fines, they cannot demand payment immediately. If there's a warrant, yes, you need to sort that out, where you are, but they cannot demand payment for you immediately for fines that are still within the period for you to pay them."

- Warren Tucker, motoring enthusiast 

Tucker stresses that it's vital for motorists to verify the fine details, particularly when the vehicle description or number plate may not match. 

"...they need to show a clear, visible picture of your vehicle with your registration number on it... if there's any information on that fine that is incorrect, for example, you drive a white car and the vehicle in question is a black vehicle in the photo, or the registration is spelt incorrectly on the fine, that fine becomes null and void."

- Warren Tucker, motoring enthusiast 

He encourages motorists to dispute incorrect fines and to keep an eye out for cloned number plates, which are becoming increasingly common.

Scroll up to listen to the full conversation