The Road Traffic Infringement Agency insists there is nothing unfair about the process it is was following in collecting traffic fines.
The agency said on Tuesday it was mandated to collect outstanding fines levied under the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act.
RTIA spokesman Japh Chuwe said it was disturbed at the “intentional misrepresentation” contained in an article published in The Sowetan newspaper on Tuesday headlined “Agency Out to Fleece Motorists”.
Chuwe said: “The reporter alleges that the process of collecting these outstanding infringements is illegal.”
But, he said, the agency was acting on its mandate and “there is nothing unfair about the process followed”.
He said the agency emphasised the importance of drivers complying with road traffic laws.
The Sowetan article accused the RTIA of illegally trying to collect money from motorists by allegedly commissioning three firms to hound motorists to pay outstanding traffic fines.
“CIRCUMVENTING DUE PROCESS”
The transport department has announced that there is not yet an official date for the national roll-out of the Aarto Act.
According to the Sowetan, the lobby group Justice Project SA had vowed to help drivers with legal action against illegal attempts to get money.
JPSA chairman Howard Dembovsky said: “The RTIA is circumventing due process and prescribed provisions in the Aarto Act and is therefore not acting ethically.”
He said the act may make provision for the RTIA to contract external parties to help it fulfil its functions, but it did not allow the RTIA to circumvent its requirements by taking shortcuts.
“One of which is contracting debt collectors to intimidate motorists into paying fines that have not followed the prescribed processes under the Aarto Act and regulations,” said Dembovsky. - Sapa