Statement by Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith

The City of Cape Town noted a drop of just over 4% in traffic fine income for the first half of the current financial year, compared to the corresponding period the year before.

The latest traffic fine income statistics for July 2019 to December 2019 puts traffic fine income at just over R124 million for the six-month period, compared to just over R129 million for the six-months in 2018.

The statistics debunk the myth that the enforcement efforts of the Cape Town Traffic Service are geared towards income generation, as indicated in the table below:

As can be seen from the statistics, the number of offences recorded/fines issued has remained virtually static, and income from fines has actually decreased.

In Cape Town, the average fine payment rate is 16,3%. One suspects it would have been even lower if not for the measures introduced several years ago to compel motorists to pay their outstanding fines.

Among these measures was the introduction of the Admin Mark on the Natis system which prevents motorists from renewing vehicle licenses or driving licenses if they have outstanding warrants, as well as increased resources to execute outstanding warrants.

Reasons for the poor fine repayment rates in the country vary, from being unable to afford payment to a blatant refusal to pay due to the perception that motorists can get away with it or as a means of protest against the system.

Thousands of road users break the law with scant regard for the repercussions until they are held to account. That is usually when the excuses and conspiracy theories and debates about the placement of speed-measuring devices to claims about soft targets come to the fore anything to not have to admit guilt and pay the price.

For the record, speed trapping locations have to be approved by the National Director of Public Prosecutions and do not take place on a whim. To the persons who take accountability for their actions and pay their fines timeously, the City commends you.

And to further assist diligent citizens who end up on the wrong side of the law sometimes, the City reminds the public to be mindful of the difference between a Section 56 Notice and a Section 341 Notice:

A spot fine or Section 56 notice (to appear in court) fine is given to an offender by a traffic officer just after committing an offence. No other documentation will be sent to the offender. The spot fine is the one and only notice that will be issued, with a pay date and a court date and if the offender doesn’t pay or appear in court, a warrant of arrest will be issued by the court.

A Section 341 notice is issued to a vehicle in the absence of the owner or driver/notice received via post. This type of notice will be followed by a 2nd (final notice). If no response is received, a Section 54 summons with deadlines for payment and/or appearance in court will be served on the offender or owner of the vehicle.

Source: City Of Cape Town