Stricter traffic fine penalties on the cards for South Africa

Fines SA has warned motorists and businesses to expect stricter unpaid traffic fine penalties after the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Act comes into effect later this year.

After a 17-year pilot in Johannesburg and Pretoria, Aarto is finally set to roll out nationwide starting on 1 December 2025.

At this point, 69 major municipalities will adopt the system, while the remaining 144 municipalities will be added on 1 April 2026.

One of the most important aspects of the legislation is that it will divide South Africa’s road law violations into two categories – minor infringements and serious offences.

Infringements will be handled through an administrative process by the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), while offences will be subject to legal processes, like all current violations.

Fines SA CEO Barry Berman warned that Aarto is rewriting the rules of the road, and that this could have severe consequences for those who don’t pay their fines.

“With the Aarto rollout just weeks away, motorists are urged to check and settle any outstanding fines to avoid being caught out when the new rules take effect,” he said.

“Ignoring or mishandling fines could mean losing your licence or being unable to renew your car registration.”

He pointed out that Aarto will take effect at the start of the year-end travel season when there is a spike in road blocks and traffic compliance over the holiday period.

“Motorists travelling for the holidays risk heavy penalties if they are unaware of the new system or if they pay fines through unverified channels.”

The company recommended that individuals pay their outstanding fines to start with a clean slate and avoid unnecessary penalties.

Importantly, fines not settled within 32 days may lose the 50% discount currently offered to motorists.

Fines SA has also cautioned people to be wary of scammers exploiting the Aarto rollout by sending fake fine SMSes, WhatsApp messages, and emails in an attempt to steal money or personal details.

Demerit points

The other important aspect of Aarto is the controversial demerit system, where motorists will accumulate points on their driver’s licences for various offences.

The number of points is determined based on the infraction, with severe offences like drunk driving earning six points.

Once a person exceeds 15 points, their licence will be temporarily suspended for a period of three months per point over the 15-point threshold.

While strict, the demerit points expire three months after they are issued, meaning a person would need to commit several offences in a relatively short period to lose their licence.

A concern for businesses is that they will now be required to nominate drivers in their fleets to ensure that demerit points are correctly allocated.

The table below shows the fine and demerit amounts that will be distributed for common traffic offences in South Africa: