We would like to share important information on the implementation of AARTO from Road Safety Expert Alta Swanepoel:
“Due to numerous enquiries, hoax emails and some irresponsible reporting by news papers concerning the implementation of AARTO, I wish to clarify the legal situation. If you are not interested in receiving information in this regard, I do apologise and will remove your address from our address book if you so request.
AARTO is an Act of Parliament. It must be implemented by way of a proclamation signed by the President. If AARTO is implemented in a new area, it will also be done by way of a proclamation. The only proclamations that have been published thus far have implemented the Act in the municipal areas of Johannesburg and Tshwane.
The CEO of the RTMC, Mr Rakgoale has issued an extensive press release addressing all the issues that news paper reports raised over the last few weeks.
You can have a look at the information about the RTMC on their website www.rtmc.co.za. AARTO information is available on www.aarto.co.za.
The Points Demerit System can not be implemented without a notice in the Government Gazette implementing regulation 24 and schedule 3, column 7 of the AARTO Regulations.
I receive the Government Gazettes weekly and will inform everybody on our address book as well as everyone who has attended sessions, when there is a notice in the Government Gazette concerning the implementation of AARTO in further areas.
When you receive a notice for a traffic infringement and have to sign for it at the Post Office, you have to deal with the ticket in terms of the AARTO system. When you receive it by standard mail it is issued in terms of the Criminal Procedure system. Note: Old tickets in Johannesburg and Tshwane were also issued in terms of the criminal system.
If a notice is served to you in person and it states AARTO 01 – it is an AARTO fine, if it states section 56 – it is a criminal offence.
News paper reports cannot stop the AARTO Act from being functional in a specific area. A person must act on the notices to avoid further notices being sent to him or her.
Hopefully this clarifies the matter.
Regards
Alta Swanepoel.”