City withdraws fines amnesty

MOTORISTS who are issued with traffic fines, or who have outstanding fines, will have to pay their fines in full as of 1 April after Exco agreed to withdraw the 50 per cent amnesty offered by the city.

Reduction of traffic fines can now only be done by a prosecutor upon concluding that an offender’s written representations have established good cause.

The decision follows after a report was presented to the Executive Committee on Wednesday, 30 March 2016, outlining the reasons for the withdrawal of the fine reduction.
The report stated that the decision was taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions to withdraw authority to reduce traffic fines by 50 per cent. The Municipality would have to rescind its resolution of 7 December 2012 which allowed for the provision of a 50 per cent reduction of old outstanding fines if paid, or if fines were paid within 30 days of being issued and if the offender is not in contempt of court.

City Manager Sibusiso Sithole said a directive had been issued to the City to review the fine reduction.
“It is important that the public is made aware of this change. It must be noted that what is happening is not extraordinary, these changes are in line with the Constitution. The decision will be implemented by the end of the week,” he said

According to reports, the National Prosecuting Authority instructed the city to withdraw the amnesty. It also argued that the incentive was merely an attempt by the city to collect outstanding revenue.
The amnesty was introduced in December 2012.