The sudden new SMS notifications to motorists of outstanding traffic fines is a genuine new service and not a hoax.
The Joburg Metro Police Department on Wednesday morning confirmed the new development was as a service in the lead-up to the national roll-out of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) planned to start early next year.
According to JMPD director Gerrie Gerneke, the new service was started two days ago.
It is run by a team of about 15 people, from a new call centre.
“It is simply a service – we are not threatening to arrest people or not to renew their car and driving licences. It is simply a reminder that they have outstanding traffic offences and they should pay,” Gerneke said.
Gerneke said many people had been ignoring traffic fines because of rumours that they were not legitimate because they had been delivered by ordinary mail instead of registered post.
“If people want to object to the fines, they must fill in the Aarto A8 representation form and appear in court and state their case why they should not pay the fine,” he said.
This new SMS system is not about money, said Gerneke, again emphasising “it is not about collecting money from the public”.
“It is a service informing people of what fines are outstanding and to give them advice on how to pay or make proper representations, making them aware that they cannot simply carry on ignoring the fines,” he said. - The Star