‘A necessary law’: Transport Minister lauds ruling on AARTO Act

Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga says the judgement handed down by the Constitutional Court on the Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act affirms the  long-held view that this a necessary law to advance efforts in arresting the carnage on our roads.

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) had challenged AARTO arguing that it was impractical and about making money for government rather than improving road safety in South Africa.

OUTA approached the courts in October 2021, asking that both the main act and the amendment act be declared unconstitutional and invalid. In January 2022, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled in OUTA’s favour and agreed with its position.

TRANSPORT MINISTER REACTS TO AARTO RULING

Chikunga said the judgement provides clarity on Schedule 4 matters of concurrent function between the national and provincial sphere as well as Schedule 5 which is exclusive provincial competence.

“Our assertion that AARTO is part of Road Regulation and thus concurrent competence has been confirmed by the highest court in the land.

“The AARO Act is an important cog in our road traffic law enforcement interventions aimed at arresting the carnage on our roads and altering driver behaviour. This will reinforce other interventions such as classifying traffic policing as a 24-hour, 7-day job alongside the regulation of driving schools and introduction of an NQF level 6 training for traffic law enforcement officers,” she said.

ALSO READ: AARTO declared lawful: What this means for motorists

Furthermore, Chikunga said they will equally move with speed with the implementation of the points demerit system, an important cornerstone of the AARTO Act intended to drive motorist behaviour on our roads.

HERE’S HOW MUCH YOU’LL PAY

Here’s a several handy lists of AARTO violations, and the demerit points associated with them. Click on the links below to be in the know:

• Here are all expired license penalties.
• Speeding fines will cost you the following under AARTO.
• If you break any rules of the road, this is what it’ll cost you.
• These are the parking violations and their fines.
• Finally, if you’re stopped or pulled over and your vehicle has any defects, here’s what you’ll be fined.

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