Speeding Fines
Speeding fines in South Africa can vary, depending on many factors, and the speed limit can change without warning, even on the same road. The system in place to catch drivers who speed is very sophisticated, and can include camera enforcement as well as enforcement by the local police officers or metro police. Speeding fines may change in amount from one place in South Africa to another, and will depend on the location where the speeding fine is received. Because of a high number of fatal crashes caused by excessive speed in areas of South Africa, the speed limits are strictly enforced and speeding can be a serious traffic offense. Speeding fines are assessed for going above the speed limit, but the fines are not the only possible penalty. If the speed the vehicle is driven is excessive, or a large amount over the allowable speed, arrest and jail time can also be given as well. Speed violations in South Africa should never be ignored, and must be taken care of properly to ensure that further action is not taken to collect the speeding fines. Otherwise a warrant may be issued and executed to seize property or arrest the speeder.
Speeding Fines And Camera Enforcement
In South Africa, just because a metro police officer is not around does not mean it is possible to speed without getting caught. Traffic Cameras used for this purpose are located in many different areas. The authorities have made these cameras fit in, so it is not always possible to detect them. When a speeding violation occurs in front of one of the cameras, a picture is taken of the vehicle and the license number. Sometimes the picture will show the driver, but this is not always the case. The speeding fines which result from violations caught on camera are assessed against the legal owner of the vehicle. This can cause problems at times, if the owner of the vehicle has loaned it out, but it is possible for the owner to nominate the driver who was responsible for the speeding fines, if it is not them. Just like all other camera enforcement fines, there is a process that is in place which involves certain steps, and one of these steps will allow the vehicle owner to designate the correct driver by signing a legal statement.
Paying Speeding Fines In South Africa
Speeding fines which involve speeds up to forty kilometers per hour over the set limit do not require a court appearance usually,as long as the fines are paid. Speeding violations which involve speeds over this amount do not have a set fine, and the driver must appear in court. Many metro police offices will accept payments for speeding fines, but only on the weekdays between seven thirty in the morning to three in the afternoon, and there are online payment websites and options as well. Use care when paying over the Internet though, because if the third party site does not pay the speeding fines the driver will be the one who has a warrant issued against them. If the fines are levied using camera enforcement, it is important to understand that the driver has the right to view the photos taken by the camera, and they should be clear enough to read the entire tag and capture the details about the vehicle. If the numbers in the photos are blurry, or the vehicle is not recognizable to the driver, then the speeding fines should be appealed to the court for dismissal. A great resource for how to deal with such fines is the Traffic Fines Toolkit written by Joe Lazarus.
Speeding Fines And The Traffic Offense Process
In South Africa, speeding fines are processed the same as other traffic fines. A ticket is issued, either by a police officer or through camera enforcement. The first step in the process is an infringement letter. Next is a courtesy later, mailed a little more than a month after the infringement letter. Until the courtesy letter is received, the speeding fines may be discounted by fifty percent for prompt payment. Once the courtesy letter is received, the full amount of the speeding fines must be paid, plus an additional fee for administrative purposes. If the fines are still not paid within thirty two days from this point, the court will issue an enforcement order. This gives the driver another thirty two days, but if no action is taken a warrant will be issued. The warrant is normally served seven days from when it was issued. Speeding fines are common in South Africa, but this does not mean that they should not be taken seriously. Not paying these fines can result in a license suspension, arrest and jail time, and assorted other penalties. If a speeding ticket is received and it is proper, with all of the legal requirements present, the best thing to do is pay the speeding fines immediately. This will give a fifty percent discount. The best way to avoid speeding fines is to drive carefully and obey all of the traffic laws and speed limits.
Sources:
http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/8b9eada5e8fb4ffbb97086f164facc46//Over_5_000_held_for_speeding
http://www.colinseymour.co.uk/south-africas-first-world-speeding-fine-system
Speeding Fines And Camera Enforcement
In South Africa, just because a metro police officer is not around does not mean it is possible to speed without getting caught. Traffic Cameras used for this purpose are located in many different areas. The authorities have made these cameras fit in, so it is not always possible to detect them. When a speeding violation occurs in front of one of the cameras, a picture is taken of the vehicle and the license number. Sometimes the picture will show the driver, but this is not always the case. The speeding fines which result from violations caught on camera are assessed against the legal owner of the vehicle. This can cause problems at times, if the owner of the vehicle has loaned it out, but it is possible for the owner to nominate the driver who was responsible for the speeding fines, if it is not them. Just like all other camera enforcement fines, there is a process that is in place which involves certain steps, and one of these steps will allow the vehicle owner to designate the correct driver by signing a legal statement.
Paying Speeding Fines In South Africa
Speeding fines which involve speeds up to forty kilometers per hour over the set limit do not require a court appearance usually,as long as the fines are paid. Speeding violations which involve speeds over this amount do not have a set fine, and the driver must appear in court. Many metro police offices will accept payments for speeding fines, but only on the weekdays between seven thirty in the morning to three in the afternoon, and there are online payment websites and options as well. Use care when paying over the Internet though, because if the third party site does not pay the speeding fines the driver will be the one who has a warrant issued against them. If the fines are levied using camera enforcement, it is important to understand that the driver has the right to view the photos taken by the camera, and they should be clear enough to read the entire tag and capture the details about the vehicle. If the numbers in the photos are blurry, or the vehicle is not recognizable to the driver, then the speeding fines should be appealed to the court for dismissal. A great resource for how to deal with such fines is the Traffic Fines Toolkit written by Joe Lazarus.
Speeding Fines And The Traffic Offense Process
In South Africa, speeding fines are processed the same as other traffic fines. A ticket is issued, either by a police officer or through camera enforcement. The first step in the process is an infringement letter. Next is a courtesy later, mailed a little more than a month after the infringement letter. Until the courtesy letter is received, the speeding fines may be discounted by fifty percent for prompt payment. Once the courtesy letter is received, the full amount of the speeding fines must be paid, plus an additional fee for administrative purposes. If the fines are still not paid within thirty two days from this point, the court will issue an enforcement order. This gives the driver another thirty two days, but if no action is taken a warrant will be issued. The warrant is normally served seven days from when it was issued. Speeding fines are common in South Africa, but this does not mean that they should not be taken seriously. Not paying these fines can result in a license suspension, arrest and jail time, and assorted other penalties. If a speeding ticket is received and it is proper, with all of the legal requirements present, the best thing to do is pay the speeding fines immediately. This will give a fifty percent discount. The best way to avoid speeding fines is to drive carefully and obey all of the traffic laws and speed limits.
Sources:
http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/8b9eada5e8fb4ffbb97086f164facc46//Over_5_000_held_for_speeding
http://www.colinseymour.co.uk/south-africas-first-world-speeding-fine-system
