Jakarta:The National Department of Transport is set to amend the National Road Traffic Regulations to prevent the misuse of traffic documents, such as traffic register number certificates, learner's licences, and driving licences, as general identification forms.

According to South African Government News Agency, this move comes after a major 2023 investigation in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, which revealed the widespread misuse of Traffic Register Numbers (TRNs) and other road traffic documents as identification. The investigation highlighted that such practices contradict the Identification Act, 1997, which assigns the Department of Home Affairs as the sole authority for managing the National Population Register and issuing ID documents.

The Department of Transport emphasized that TRNs were originally intended for individuals without a South African identity number to engage with the National Traffic Information System for road traffic purposes, not as general identification. To address this misuse, the proposed amendments will align road traffic legislation with the Identification Act and remove any legal ambiguities.

Key amendments include changes to Regulation 1, excluding TRNs and similar documents from the definition of acceptable identification. For non-permanent residents, acceptable identification will require an unexpired passport and relevant permits. For companies, it will involve certificates issued under the Companies Act.

Regulation 335 will also see significant changes, such as deleting provisions recognizing TRNs as acceptable identification and imposing stricter controls over their use. TRN holders will need to notify authorities upon obtaining other identification forms and will face new requirements for certificate validity and renewal.

The proposed amendments will be open for public comment as per the National Road Traffic Act, 1996. Stakeholders will have 30 days to submit feedback after publication in the Government Gazette, ensuring all inputs are considered prior to finalizing the regulations.