Aarto: lots of ifs and buts

TRAFFIC ACT: UNLIKELY TO KICK IN AS PLANNED ON 1 JULY

Infrastructure being set up but still needs to be gazetted, signed off.

As D-day for the contentious Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Act looms, the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) has moved to allay public fears, saying it was not intended to punish drivers but to inspire a culture of compliance.

According to RTIA, the agency tasked with implementing and managing the point demerit system, Aarto’s combative element was unlikely to kick in with the Act on 1 July but only once necessary regulations were promulgated and President Cyril Ramaphosa made a proclamation.

The transport department announced the Act’s effective date as 1 July but new details emerged last month, when director-general Alec Moemi told parliament Aarto would be introduced over five stages.

This did not sit well with the Automobile Association (AA), one of Aarto’s fiercest critics, as this added too many questions about its implementation.

The AA noted that in May, during his briefing of the National Council of Provinces, the director-general said this phase entailed setting up the registry and all requirements, ultimately working towards the introduction of a demerit system.

“We are, however, unclear as to what this exactly means, or if this means Aarto will be implemented come 1 July at all,” it said in a statement.

“Communication on the rollout of Aarto appears to be happening in the media, with the department of transport not speaking on the matter at all.

“All this is creating confusion among motorists ... who are unsure if the legislation is, or is not, coming into force next month.”

Though the final statement on Aarto implementation would come from the transport department, RTIA spokesperson Monde Mkalipi said a report would have to be submitted to Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula detailing that everything, including infrastructure, logistics and connectivity, for implementation of Aarto was in place.

“There are also regulations that need to be gazetted before [Ramaphosa] can make the proclamation and sign on the dotted line,” Mkalipi said. “The demerit system may or may not kick in on 1 July.

“Currently, the process is characterised by preparations and seized with ensuring readiness for the roll-out of the system so the demerit system might ... kick in on the second phase, once all the preparations are in place.”

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