South African businesses are being urged to tighten the way they manage traffic fines as the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system brings stricter requirements for identifying drivers.
Companies that allow employees to share vehicles could face particular challenges, with businesses expected to establish who was behind the wheel when an offence was committed.
Fines4U owner Cornelia van Niekerk warned during a media briefing on Monday that businesses will not be able to simply settle traffic fines without identifying the driver responsible.
She said failing to nominate the correct driver could result in a fine that is three times higher.
AARTO Traffic Fines Put Greater Responsibility On Businesses
Van Niekerk said companies need systems capable of tracking which employees use specific vehicles, particularly businesses operating large fleets where vehicles are frequently shared.
“You must have a system in place, because you must nominate the correct driver to get the points and to get the fine.”
The introduction of the AARTO demerit point system will also mean that traffic offences can have consequences beyond the payment of a fine, with points potentially accumulating against motorists.
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Van Niekerk said businesses therefore need to begin preparing for the system rather than relying on existing practices for dealing with traffic offences.
She also cautioned companies against simply deducting the cost of a traffic fine from an employee’s salary without first establishing who was driving the vehicle when the offence occurred.
AARTO Enforcement Means Unpaid Traffic Fines Cannot Simply Be Ignored
Van Niekerk said motorists and businesses should not assume that a traffic fine does not exist simply because they have not received it through the post.
She advised businesses to designate someone to regularly check for outstanding fines through the appropriate systems instead of relying only on postal notifications.
Motorists and companies will also need to understand the different offences and penalties associated with the new traffic enforcement system, including situations in which vehicles may be confiscated.
The advice comes as motorists and businesses face increasing scrutiny over outstanding traffic fines and the implementation of the AARTO framework.
Motorists Warned About Fake AARTO Fine Payment Messages
Van Niekerk also warned motorists to be alert to scams involving fraudulent messages demanding payment for alleged traffic fines.
She advised motorists not to click on payment links contained in unsolicited messages or emails.
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Instead, motorists should verify whether a fine exists through the official government AARTO platform before making any payment.
For businesses managing multiple vehicles, keeping accurate driver records and regularly checking outstanding fines will become an increasingly important part of fleet administration as AARTO enforcement takes effect.
