Nearly half a million Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) infringement notices have been captured on the NaTIS system since Phase 2 of the rollout began on July 1.
By August 26, the total stood at 492 636 notices, according to Monde Mkalipi, spokesperson for the Road Traffic Infringement Authority (RTIA). The figure changes daily.
The AARTO Act system officially came into force in 62 municipalities on July 1 following President Cyril Ramaphosa's proclamation. It is expected to be extended to a further 151 municipalities later this year, while the demerit-point system will only be introduced in 2027.
Mkalipi explained that under AARTO, the law is applied differently when dealing with traffic offences.
“Issuing authorities have been issuing notices under the Criminal Procedure Act for many years. The implementation of AARTO is a fundamental shift from the Criminal Procedure Act to the administrative resolution of traffic infringements,” he said.
According to Mkalipi, law enforcement officers in the implementing municipalities have been adequately trained for the national rollout.
“Because the rollout happens progressively, training is continuous. It is being systematically scaled to prepare law enforcement agencies across incoming regions, such as the upcoming inclusion of 151 additional municipalities under Phase 3, ensuring that enforcement standards are consistent nationwide.”
What AARTO means for motorists
The AARTO Act provides for the administrative processing of traffic infringements and includes a points-demerit system for repeat offenders.
The purpose of the system is to encourage compliance with traffic laws and improve road safety. However, the demerit-point system is not yet operational. The RTIA says it will be introduced during Phase 4 of the rollout.
Motorists who receive an AARTO infringement notice may:
- Pay the penalty within the prescribed period, with a 50% discount for payments made within 32 days after the infringement has been committed.
- Submit a representation disputing the infringement.
- Nominate another driver.
- Apply for the revocation of an enforcement order.
- Arrange to pay an eligible penalty in instalments.
Mkalipi urged motorists to act promptly.
“Prescribed timeframes in the AARTO Act are critical when it comes to processing traffic infringements,” he said.
Motorists who fail to resolve infringements could face an enforcement order that blocks the renewal of a driving licence, vehicle licence disc or professional driving permit.
What happens at a roadblock?
At a roadblock in a municipality where AARTO is operational, the interaction differs significantly from traditional criminal-prosecution roadblocks.
The process focuses on verification, digital notices and compliance status rather than immediate roadside detention.
If a motorist is found to have committed an infringement at the roadblock, or officers identify violations, they can serve infringement notices.
The notice will set out the motorist’s available options, including payment, submitting a representation or nominating another driver. Instalment arrangements may be available for penalties of R750 or more, subject to the applicable requirements.
Notices and electronic communication
The RTIA said infringement notices would continue to be delivered by registered mail. However, it also plans to introduce electronic notifications through SMS, WhatsApp and email.
Motorists should ensure that their contact details are up to date on the electronic National Administration Traffic Information System (NaTIS) and should verify any fine through an official RTIA platform before making payment or clicking on a link.
Company vehicles
The RTIA said that when an employee commits a speeding infringement in a company vehicle, the driver may receive the demerit points if the business nominates that person as the driver.
The operator may receive points for operator-related infringements, while vehicle-related roadworthiness infringements may be linked to the vehicle’s operator card. An operator card applies to trucks, buses and taxis. The operator card may be suspended if the applicable points threshold is exceeded.
Demerit points are not yet active
The RTIA said the demerit system is not yet operational. It will be implemented in Phase 4 of the rollout, and at that date motorists will start with zero demerit points.
Mkalipi said points-demerit systems worldwide are intended to discourage motorists from disobeying the law by putting their privilege to drive in jeopardy if they flout the law. In other words, it is implemented as a deterrent against contravening traffic laws.
“The demerit points will play a punitive role for habitual offenders. The Demerit Points System within the AARTO Act is key to discouraging drivers from transgressing.”
Points would be allocated according to the seriousness of an infringement. The authority said one point could be deducted after three months if no further points were incurred during that period.
Once a motorist exceeds 15 points, the relevant licence or permit could be suspended for a period calculated in terms of the Act.
The RTIA said demerit-point information would be available only to the relevant individual, subject to the procedures prescribed in the regulations. Employers would require written permission from employees to access their demerit-point information.
The consequences catered for within the AARTO Act for transgressions include:
- Blocking the renewal of a driving licence.
- Blocking the renewal or application for a PrDP.
- Blocking the renewal of a motor vehicle licence.
Querying a fine
What happens if you get an unfair fine or an administrative error prevents you from renewing your car license disc? Both the driver and owner must submit separate representation applications by the completion and submission of the prescribed AARTO 08 representation application forms available online
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport Siboniso Duma said that, on July 28, the first motorist in the province received an AARTO notice at the Mariannhill Toll Plaza.
He said a traffic infringement notice was electronically generated by the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), printed on the spot and served on the motorist. He added that KZN Road Traffic Inspectorate officers had received intensive training on the AARTO system.
Muneera Allie, spokesperson for the Western Cape Mobility Department, said the department supported the objectives of AARTO, particularly its potential to strengthen traffic enforcement, accountability and road safety.
However, Allie said AARTO was not implemented in the Western Cape on July 1, and that the province continued to engage on outstanding operational, legislative, regulatory and systems-related concerns that it believed should be addressed to ensure the system was effective and properly implemented.
“While these matters, including ongoing intergovernmental and legal processes, are being addressed, municipalities in the Western Cape continue to prepare for eventual implementation.”
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) said the service of notices was a major practical concern under AARTO.
“The South African Post Office (SAPO) remains an important delivery channel, and proof of posting or delivery may be relevant to establishing legal service.
“A notice is legally considered ‘served’ when it has been delivered or transmitted in the manner prescribed by the AARTO Act and regulations, even if the motorist does not actually open or read it. Under the 2026 AARTO Regulations, a notice is deemed to have been served 10 days after it was sent by registered mail, while an electronically served notice is deemed to have been served on the date it was sent, subject to the specific prescribed requirements for electronic service.”
Given SAPO’s operational challenges, as well as outdated email addresses, cellphone numbers or government records, OUTA said motorists should take electronic notifications seriously but verify fines through official channels before paying or clicking on links.
According to OUTA, under AARTO, traffic-fine revenue is collected through the central RTIA system, with revenue generally split 50/50 between the RTIA and the issuing authority, such as a municipality or provincial traffic authority. It said this meant municipalities no longer simply retained the full value of the fines they issued. Instead, they became dependent on the RTIA to collect, account for and distribute their share, raising concerns about revenue, cash flow and administrative delays.
The same applied to fines issued by provincial traffic departments. Where a provincial traffic authority was the issuing authority under AARTO, the money flowed through the AARTO system and the province received its prescribed share, rather than simply retaining the fine revenue as before.
However, OUTA said that, from its perspective, the government had not yet convincingly demonstrated that its IT systems were ready for AARTO on a national scale.
“NaTIS and connected systems will have to process millions of updates involving vehicles, fines, payments and, eventually, demerit points. The risk is that incorrect or delayed information could wrongly penalise motorists or block licensing transactions. OUTA believes these systems must be properly stress-tested and proven reliable before national implementation. Motorists should not suffer because the government’s IT systems get it wrong.”
given.majola@nationalmg.co.za