With ke Dezemba finally here, many of us will be hitting the road for some well-earned downtime or to visit friends and family. But beware – navigating the roads over the festive season can be challenging. Metro police will be out in full force to catch would-be lawbreakers. Here are 4 things that could get you fined on the road this December.
1. Expired licences
This is usually the first thing metro 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 own penalties in terms of the offences laid out in the National Road Travel Act.
2. Your car not being roadworthy
This can be something as small as not all of your lights or seatbelts being in working order or bigger things like doors not being firmly attached, tyres not having a tread of at least 1.6mm or a cracked windscreen. Apart from being unsafe for both you and other motorists on the road, if your car is found to be unroadworthy, it can be impounded, and you can be fined.
3. Breaking the obvious rules of the road
There are instances where you can be fined and arrested on the spot under the 2008 AARTO Regulations –
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Operating a vehicle recklessly.
- Exceeding the speed limit by 40 km/h or more.
Watch out for areas where average speed prosecution is done, slowing down at the end may be too late to avoid a fine.
4. Using your cellphone
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).
NB: A traffic fine is not an arrest warrant. You cannot be arrested for outstanding fines unless a warrant of arrest has been issued.
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*This is only basic legal advice and cannot be relied on solely. The information is correct at the time of being sent to publishing.