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The new R100 “violation penalty rate” that is paid for every offense committed is a “stealth tax” charged for something that should be free.
This is the opinion of South African Automobile Association (AA) spokesperson Layton Beard, who discussed this tax with eNCA.
This new “violation penalty rate” was first introduced in the Administrative Adjudication of Traffic Violations Act (AARTO) enacted in August 2019.
It rose to prominence again after it was included in recently released information related to AARTO regulations.
This document, which the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, published this month, states:
The imposition of the penalty provided for in article 36 is payable for each offense committed and followed by all the processes prescribed by law. This rate will not be subject to the discount mentioned in column 4 below.
Beard and AA are unimpressed, saying it is simply a money-making scheme that is destined to generate billions for the state.
“The new infringement penalty lien is intended to generate money for a function that should be provided in the normal cause of events,” said Beard.
He said that when you are issued a ticket, the amount of the fine on that ticket should be the amount you pay.
However, what will happen in the future is that you will pay additional R100 just to have that fine issued to you.
Beard compared the new imposition of penalties to having to pay every time a tax return is filed, saying it is excessive and is neither fair nor fair.
“We, as AA, are concerned about that. When you consider the number of fines that are likely to be issued, you are talking about revenue collection in the billions, ”he said.
Another bone of contention is whether the imposition of the R100 violation penalty will be returned if the fine is successfully contested.
“Our opinion is that the law at the moment is a bit confusing around this,” Beard said, adding that the R100 is most likely still payable.
He added that while the intention behind Aarto was to promote road safety, it has now been transformed into an income-generating tool.
“We believe that Aarto is now a mechanism to generate funds rather than promote road safety,” said Beard.
Layton Beard interview
Now Read: New Traffic Rules Say You Now Have To Pay Extra R100 When You Get A Ticket
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