As many South Africans continue making their way to different destinations, either to visit family or go on holiday, there will be more traffic police on the road. We look at traffic violations; you could be fined for on the roads and the amounts you will have to pay.
OVER SPEEDING:
Exceeding the speed limit by 10km per hour may result in a fine of R250, while exceeding it by 30 km per hour or more may result in a fine of R1,000 or more. A non-admission of guilt (NAG) fine is issued for speeding more than 30km per hour over the limit. This is a serious offence that requires the driver to appear in court and admit guilt.
DRIVING WITHOUT A DRIVER'S LICENCE:
It's a traffic violation to drive a car without a valid driver's licence. If caught, the fine for driving without a license is R1,250.
UNROADWORTHY CAR:
The fine for driving an unroadworthy vehicle on a public road is R1,000, and three demerit points can be added to a driver's record. The vehicle may also be impounded, and the owner may be responsible for storage costs.
USING A CELLPHONE WHILE DRIVING:
The law does not make a distinction between checking your route on an app and chatting on your phone, so beware of using your phone while driving. Depending on the area, you could have your phone confiscated and/or get a fine. The Western Cape is known for using the confiscation and release method. The fine for using a mobile phone while driving without a hands-free system is between R500 and R1,000.
EXPIRED LICENCES:
This is usually the first thing traffic police check when they pull you over, so make sure both your vehicle licence and your driver's licence are valid. Driving without a valid licence is against the law, and if you are caught doing so, you could be fined or even locked up. Each province and jurisdiction sets its penalties in terms of the offences laid out in the National Road Travel Act. In South Africa, the fine for driving with an expired vehicle license disc can be up to R1,000. The amount of the fine depends on how many months the licence has expired. The penalty is calculated at 10% of the annual licensing fee for each month the licence is expired.
Source:www.aarto.co.za