MOTORISTS will be liable to pay their traffic fines in full from 1 April as the 50 per cent reduction of fines offered by eThekwini Municipality has been withdrawn.
Reduction of traffic fines can now only be done by a prosecutor upon concluding that an offender’s written representations have established good cause.
A report presented to the executive committee on Wednesday, 30 March outlined 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 was not in contempt of court.
The resolution approved the implementation date of 1 December 2012 for the fine reduction, which would be terminated upon implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act, which includes such incentives for payment of fines.
Fine reductions will only be considered upon receipt of written representation from the offender, showing good cause, in line with section 57(4) of the Criminal Procedure Act.
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.
