Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Bill; finalisation

Meeting report

PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT
25 September 2002
ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION OF ROAD TRAFFIC OFFENCES AMENDMENT BILL; FINALISATION

Chairperson: Mr J Cronin (ANC)

Documents Handed Out:
Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Bill [B42-2002]
Memorandum by Legal Services, Department of Transport on the AARTO Bill (Appendix 1)

SUMMARY
The Committee formally considered the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Bill. Members' concerns ranged from payment of traffic offences and mode of notification with regard to the appointment of members to Agency Board. The Department of Transport submitted their corrections to various clauses of the Amendment Bill after seeking legal advice. The Committee adopted the amendments to the Bill.

All Members agreed that discussions on the hearings in to the National Land Transport Transition Act be delayed until the beginning of the next term of Parliament. It was agreed that the Palmer Group is to be requested to draft a summary of processes that unfolded during the public hearings on the NLTTA. The Committee would then deliberate on the summary compiled by the Palmer Group.

MINUTES
The Deputy Manager of Legal Services of the Department, Adv S Dube, outlined the corrections proposed to the Amendment Bill in question. For details of the corrections to amendments, please see Appendix 1.

Discussion
Mr Farrow (DP) raised concern over Clause 19(B) with regard to payment by a cheque that is dishonoured. Would payment of traffic offences by cheques no longer be allowed?

Mr Van Tonder (Department) replied that an advanced technology system of payment has been developed to enhance the payment of traffic fines. But the presence of such technology does not render payment by cheques impossible. In some instances, traffic offenders would be able to pay their fines with the use of cellular technology.

The Chairperson, Mr Jeremy Cronin (ANC) added that the aim of the system was to facilitate the payment and collection of traffic fines. Further, it is meant to close loopholes on people who might want to manipulate the system of payment.

Mr Slabbert (IFP) asked if payment of traffic fines will attract any interest as the charging of interest has been omitted in the amended Bill. He also wanted to know who will determine the period of installments and whether the powers of prosecutors were being taken away by the representations officer.

Mr Van Tonder replied that payment of traffic fines would be interest-free. But the offender cannot decide on the payment of interest on installments, as the Road Traffic Infringement Agency Board would determine this. Furthermore, there can never be an admission of guilt fine issued by the prosecutor. The offender can simply approach the court for judgement on his infringement. This means that the powers of prosecutors to award reductions when requested by the offender are taken away.

Mr Niemann (NNP) suggested that the notice be given in the newspapers as well and not only in the Government Gazette.

The Chair responded that he is reluctant to accept the suggestion as certain constituencies have a vested interest in the sector. Therefore the notice by means of government gazette was sufficient. Mr Ainslie (ANC) agreed with the view of the chair and added that this issue could be highly contentious and notice in mass media must be avoided.

The Chairperson read of the motion of desirability and the Bill was agreed to.

The meeting was adjourned until further notice.

Appendix 1:
LEGAL SERVICES
MEMORANDUM

To: Adv Mbangeni