THE eThekwini Municipality has come up with a new system to communicate with offenders who have outstanding traffic fines.
Metro Police’s Acting Head Steve Middleton said the text messaging system which will be launched soon, is part of their efforts to make sure that unpaid fines are collected.
“The City is presently evaluating the database with regard to cellphone numbers and population of the database. It is envisioned that the system will be up and running within the next two months,” he said.
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According to Middleton the total number of outstanding fines is 330 904.
“The total value of these fines is R619 703 453. We have issued 76 077 warrants of arrest to recoup fines. The total value of warrants of arrests for outstanding fines is R80 491 680. This is only for the period from November 2016 to April 2018,” he said.
He said the most common offences for fines included speeding, red robot violations, inconsistent driving, public transport violations and offences, driving on the shoulder of the highway, overtaking facing oncoming traffic, overtaking on a barrier lines, talking on the cell phone while driving and not wearing a seatbelt among others.
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Middleton said when a fine is not paid within the stipulated time a specific process is followed.
“Initially a letter is sent to offenders. Attempts to serve summons personally are made; roadblocks are also held where individuals with outstanding fines are identified and summons served. It must also be noted that for certain charges officers will issue summons immediately,” said Middleton.
He added that once summons are served personally, the matter is handed over to the court.
“The Magistrate will then resolve to issue warrants or not in the event that individuals fail to attend court on the predetermined dates. A letter is sent to all individuals in respective of whom warrants have been issued to advise them of the warrant issued. Individuals have 21 days to resolve the issue prior to the Magistrate authorising (signing off warrants),” he concluded.
