Traffic Department
South Africa Traffic Department Responsibilities
The traffic department has specific responsibilities, and these mainly include traffic enforcement duties. This can include issuing traffic tickets, vehicle registrations, license testing, driving permits, road testing, installing and manning enforcement cameras, issuing tickets for parking offenses, and many others. There is at least one traffic department in each main area, and this department is basically responsible for all traffic related enforcement and activities. This can include traffic officers who issue tickets and make arrests for traffic related reasons, those that direct traffic during events, metro police and other duties which may be required.
Traffic Department Mistakes And Complaints
When it comes to the local traffic department in many areas of South Africa, there are a large number of mistakes made by the department, as well as numerous complaints. Some of the mistakes made by more than one traffic department involve traffic camera enforcement, while others involve human error. A common mistake made is the wrong driver being assessed for traffic fines because of photographs that are not clear or accurate. There have been many traffic fines thrown out and dismissed by the court because the photos relied on by the traffic department were so poor it was not possible to identify the car or registration number. Numerous drivers have contested camera tickets because the vehicle in the photo is clearly not their vehicle, and many drivers mistakenly assessed fines have concrete proof that they and their vehicle were not in the area, some drivers were not even in the country when the traffic department maintained that they were racking up traffic fines. When drivers have tried to rectify the mistake many have complained that the officials responsible for correcting the mistake were no help at all, and often made the problem worse. One woman turned in proof that she could not have possibly been speeding because she was hospitalized the entire week more than four hundred miles away. She was told that due to the circumstances the traffic department would lower her traffic fines but she would still have to pay something, even though it was obviously a mistake by the traffic department in the first place. Another common complaint is the long wait times that can occur at these departments.
Traffic Department Corruption
Another problem experienced by more than one traffic department in South Africa is corruption, and this is true of other departments and police units as well. Corruption in the traffic department can take many forms. Bribes are a common occurrence in some areas, and can be so common that drivers in these areas carry extra money specifically for this purpose. The traffic officer will offer to accept less in exchange for not issuing any tickets to the driver. Bribes can be used for speeding tickets, parking offenses, and many other traffic law violations. Bribes may also be used at the traffic department to get the necessary licenses and other paperwork required. This type of corruption at the traffic department has been minimized since new systems and regulations have been put into effect though. At one point it was common for individuals attempting to get a drivers license to choose the tester, but this is no longer possible due to the computerized appointment schedule software that is used by the traffic departments in South Africa now. Appointments are set on a next scheduled time available basis only, and the name of the individual who is doing the testing is not disclosed until the day of the testing. This will prevent a specific traffic department or testing employee from accepting bribes in exchange for favorable treatment.
How To Deal With A Traffic Department In South Africa
Anyone in South Africa who has ever had to deal with a traffic department understands that there are some tips which can help. Just like any other bureaucracy, a traffic department can be very slow and may not be customer friendly at all. The first tip is be prepared to wait, especially if it is during a busy time of day. There have been cases of an all day wait reported to take the driving test and obtain a drivers license or license disk. Try to get to the traffic department during the off hours, and early in the morning may be ideal because there are fewer people at this time. The location of the traffic department, the specific services offered, and the number of employees, as well as the number of people waiting, will all have an effect on the wait time. Bring a book or something else to occupy the time, to make the wait go faster. Do not get frustrated, and try to stay polite. Be prepared for a wait, and many times a pleasant surprise may be in store because the wait may be quite short. Remember that the traffic department may move slowly, and most of the time the normal hours are from seven thirty in the morning until three in the afternoon on weekdays.
Sources:
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20050503072035981C420902
The traffic department has specific responsibilities, and these mainly include traffic enforcement duties. This can include issuing traffic tickets, vehicle registrations, license testing, driving permits, road testing, installing and manning enforcement cameras, issuing tickets for parking offenses, and many others. There is at least one traffic department in each main area, and this department is basically responsible for all traffic related enforcement and activities. This can include traffic officers who issue tickets and make arrests for traffic related reasons, those that direct traffic during events, metro police and other duties which may be required.
Traffic Department Mistakes And Complaints
When it comes to the local traffic department in many areas of South Africa, there are a large number of mistakes made by the department, as well as numerous complaints. Some of the mistakes made by more than one traffic department involve traffic camera enforcement, while others involve human error. A common mistake made is the wrong driver being assessed for traffic fines because of photographs that are not clear or accurate. There have been many traffic fines thrown out and dismissed by the court because the photos relied on by the traffic department were so poor it was not possible to identify the car or registration number. Numerous drivers have contested camera tickets because the vehicle in the photo is clearly not their vehicle, and many drivers mistakenly assessed fines have concrete proof that they and their vehicle were not in the area, some drivers were not even in the country when the traffic department maintained that they were racking up traffic fines. When drivers have tried to rectify the mistake many have complained that the officials responsible for correcting the mistake were no help at all, and often made the problem worse. One woman turned in proof that she could not have possibly been speeding because she was hospitalized the entire week more than four hundred miles away. She was told that due to the circumstances the traffic department would lower her traffic fines but she would still have to pay something, even though it was obviously a mistake by the traffic department in the first place. Another common complaint is the long wait times that can occur at these departments.
Traffic Department Corruption
Another problem experienced by more than one traffic department in South Africa is corruption, and this is true of other departments and police units as well. Corruption in the traffic department can take many forms. Bribes are a common occurrence in some areas, and can be so common that drivers in these areas carry extra money specifically for this purpose. The traffic officer will offer to accept less in exchange for not issuing any tickets to the driver. Bribes can be used for speeding tickets, parking offenses, and many other traffic law violations. Bribes may also be used at the traffic department to get the necessary licenses and other paperwork required. This type of corruption at the traffic department has been minimized since new systems and regulations have been put into effect though. At one point it was common for individuals attempting to get a drivers license to choose the tester, but this is no longer possible due to the computerized appointment schedule software that is used by the traffic departments in South Africa now. Appointments are set on a next scheduled time available basis only, and the name of the individual who is doing the testing is not disclosed until the day of the testing. This will prevent a specific traffic department or testing employee from accepting bribes in exchange for favorable treatment.
How To Deal With A Traffic Department In South Africa
Anyone in South Africa who has ever had to deal with a traffic department understands that there are some tips which can help. Just like any other bureaucracy, a traffic department can be very slow and may not be customer friendly at all. The first tip is be prepared to wait, especially if it is during a busy time of day. There have been cases of an all day wait reported to take the driving test and obtain a drivers license or license disk. Try to get to the traffic department during the off hours, and early in the morning may be ideal because there are fewer people at this time. The location of the traffic department, the specific services offered, and the number of employees, as well as the number of people waiting, will all have an effect on the wait time. Bring a book or something else to occupy the time, to make the wait go faster. Do not get frustrated, and try to stay polite. Be prepared for a wait, and many times a pleasant surprise may be in store because the wait may be quite short. Remember that the traffic department may move slowly, and most of the time the normal hours are from seven thirty in the morning until three in the afternoon on weekdays.
Sources:
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20050503072035981C420902
