A problem many will be facing this Easter is traffic fines.
For some, this is a slight inconvenience they solve fairly quickly and for others, they simply leave these fines unpaid and hope they disappear or are forgotten.
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The most common fine issued by traffic officers to motorists is a section 56 notice which has a pay date or pay deadline by which the given amount must be paid, or the motorist will have a court date at the court of jurisdiction that the fine was issued in. If they fail to pay or appear in court, a warrant of arrest is issued.
Motorists can be stopped and their ID can be checked against the system. If they have an outstanding warrant of arrest, they will be arrested immediately and taken to police cells.
However, if it is during court hours, they can be taken directly to court. If it is not during court hours, they will remain in custody until the next court day.
So, if you are arrested on a Friday, you could remain in custody until the Monday. Imagine spending Easter weekend in the cells! Not a pleasant prospect!
So remember to pay your fines!
If you are unsure whether you have any outstanding fines, contact your local provincial traffic authority and your local authority, as they run on different systems. If it is clear on one, it may not be clear on the other.
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