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Last month, we were told that the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Act would be rolled out shortly, with a demerit system that would be phased in so that everyone could get used to the new rules.

Phase one states that you’ll rack up demerit points if you’re caught speeding, overtaking dangerously, failing to stop at a robot, or driving without a driving licence.

If you were expecting this to go off without a hitch, you were in the minority (or government).

It has been less than a month since the new rules came into effect and already we’re seeing confusion, and exploitation of that confusion, by criminals chomping at the bit to take advantage of motorists who are unsure of how things work now.

Per BusinessTech, the civil society group Justice Project South Africa (JPSA) has issued a warning to drivers about a scam that exploits “enforcement orders” issued in terms of the Aarto Act.

The scammers are operating at registering authorities and driving licence testing centres in Johannesburg and Tshwane, says JPSA chairperson Howard Dembovsky.

Victims are usually approached when they are queuing, turned away at service counters, or before they’ve even entered the centre’s grounds, and offered assistance.

They’re then asked to hand over their driving licence card to the scammers, following which they are presented with a printout of their Aarto infringements and told to settle all of them immediately, in cash.

The criminals use false claims of warrants of arrest to scare people into complying, before offering discounts to sweeten the deal and speed up the process.

“They can be very convincing, especially when they approach unwitting motorists who just want to renew their vehicle licence disc or driving licence card with the minimum of fuss and delay,” Dembovsky said.

Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) spokesperson Monde Mkalipi told EWN that the Aarto Act does not include warrants of arrest because these are issued by the courts.

“There is absolutely no possibility of a road used being issued with a warrant of arrest to resolve an Aarto fine. Road users are asked to please contact the RTIA.”

The provision was removed from the Act, which means that the only way that law enforcement could make motorists pay their existing fines is through enforcement orders.

Several people have been scammed including one man, who chose to remain anonymous, who was swindled out of R3 000.

Per his story, the scammers are also making phone calls to prospective marks.

“I received a phone call saying that I have R3,000 worth of outstanding fines and I have to pay them immediately otherwise they won’t renew my driver’s licence. I told them I didn’t have that kind of money and they said they’re going to have to press charges and I might be arrested.”

Back to Dembovsky, via BusinessTech, who says that the ease with which criminals are operating can be attributed in part to the Road Traffic Infringement Agency’s enforcement orders, which are near impossible to navigate or negotiate.

Once someone has been scammed, they’re pretty much on their own.

They are usually referred to the SA Police Service and, in many cases, find themselves being turned away by SAPS officials who tend to say: “No crime has occurred because you willingly gave your money to these people”.

He also predicts that the proposed ‘electronic service’ in the new regulations will pave the way for online scammers.

You can check your Aarto fines status online.

There is also a portal on the site to pay fines.

[source:businesstech&ewn]