Tech & Innovation

What AARTO Phase 2 means if you get a traffic fine now

AARTO Phase 2 has reached more South African municipalities, which changes the process for motorists who receive infringement notices in those areas. Before paying, check where the fine came from and what response is available to you.

Image: Kindel Media.

The amount on a traffic fine is easy to spot. However, before you reach for your bank card, check who issued it.

AARTO Phase 2 started on July 1. RTIA indicated that the phase was proclaimed for 60 additional local and metropolitan municipalities, with Johannesburg and Tshwane bringing the total to 62. Therefore, phase 2 is not a nationwide switch for every municipality. Check the issuing authority, registration number, vehicle details, date and location on the notice. Think of it as the same habit as matching a car to its paperwork before money changes hands.

What happens in the first 32 days?

AARTO gives you more than a pay-or-ignore choice. The current online portal shows a 50% discount if you pay within the first 32 days, while representations and monthly instalment applications are available during the first 64 days.

If somebody else drove your car, the system also gives you a driver-nomination route. If you believe the infringement is wrong, you can dispute it through a representation. A traffic fine is not automatically a bank-card job. Check the driver, vehicle and notice first, then choose the AARTO route that matches what happened.

If you dispute it, let the paperwork do the talking

A representation is not a complaint email. It is the formal route for explaining why you believe you should not be liable for the penalty. Compare the vehicle, location, date, time and infringement description with your records. Put your evidence in date order if emails, photographs, receipts or other documents support your version.

Retain a copy of your submission and proof of when it was sent. A file that shows what you disputed and what you supplied gives you something concrete to refer back to if the process continues.

Ignoring the fine does not make it disappear

RTIA explains that a courtesy letter can follow when an infringement notice is not dealt with within the prescribed period. The payment discount falls away at that stage, and further failure to comply can lead to an enforcement order. If camera footage relates to the infringement, preserve the original recording and check the date and time shown. Dashcam footage can form part of your evidence when the camera captured the event in dispute.

A fine has your registration number on it, but it still deserves a second look before you pay anything.

Receiving an AARTO notice does not mean your only decision is how quickly to pay it. You have the chance to check what happened, who was driving and whether the details are correct before choosing your response. A few minutes spent reading the notice properly could change what you do next.