A programming error has led to inflated traffic fine amounts within the Administrative Adjudication of Traffic Offences (Aarto) system, making this the latest glitch in the long-awaited demerit project.
The Justice Project SA (JPSA) says “the recent spate of outrageously high fine amounts (100 times the original penalty amount)... has caused widespread panic”.
It explains that the mistake appears on Aarto 09 forms as results of representations originating from the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) when it summarily rejects Aarto 08 representations to have fines nullified.
50 000 affected
Sherman Amos, deputy registrar of Aarto custodian, the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), says after investigating the complaints, the JMPD confirmed the erroneous figures are the result of a programming error, after computer software was upgraded.
“In essence, penalty amounts were programmed and quantified in cents instead of a rand value, affecting a batch of 50 000 Aarto 09 forms. Consequently, penalty amounts reflected on the original Aarto 03, for example as R500, would - after a representation was made to the JMPD on a Aarto 08 form - be stated as R50 000 on the resultant Aarto 09 form from the JMPD.”
Amos adds that not all infringers are affected by this error, only infringers that have submitted an Aarto 08 subsequent to an Aarto 03 infringement notice.
“After consulting with the JMPD, the Road Traffic Infringement Agency confirmed the error was identified and corrected on the system and that all subsequent Aarto 09 reflect correct amounts. The Road Traffic Infringement Agency is satisfied that this was indeed a computer programming error and can assure motorists confronted by this, that they will not in any way be disadvantaged.”
Infringers, when making payment, are advised to produce the original infringement notice received, reflecting the correct amount, according to the deputy registrar.
“The JMPD payment system, after the correct programming, will not accept the greater amount in relation to an infringement notice number reflected on an Aarto 09. The RTIA wishes to apologise to all affected motorists for the inconvenience caused by this error.”
Voiding insurance
JPSA national chairperson Howard Dembovsky questions the reason for the JMPD or its contractors to change their accounting records and the references in these documents to cents, with a rand symbol in front.
“It is far more likely that this 'error' was deliberate on the part of the JMPD and/or their contractors in order to scare people into going into their offices to query these things, rather than elect to be tried in court, because the JMPD is now starting to haemorrhage money due to people wising up to the unlawfulness of its actions.”
Other irregularities with the pilot Aarto system in Johannesburg include that from 1 June 2010 the JMPD began sending out infringement notices via ordinary mail when they're supposed to be sent via registered mail, thus negating the Aarto process.
“A complaint was lodged with the Public Protector by the JPSA on 17 June 2011, after all other avenues to get the JMPD to act lawfully failed. This has still not resulted in the resolution of this anomaly,” says Dembovsky.
According to financial services provider IntegriSure CEO Helen Szemerei, doubts over the ability of the current system to issue notices correctly could result in motorists driving with suspended licences, effectively voiding their insurance policies.
There is no word as yet on when the system will be implemented.
With the Aarto system, drivers gain demerit points when they commit traffic offences and this will be reflected on the National Contravention Register on eNatis. After 12 demerits are gained, a driver's licence will be suspended. The RTMC previously said it would spend over R300 million on IT and marketing for the demerit system.
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