The Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) has confirmed that SMSes being sent to drivers are not spam, but rather a new service it is rolling out.
Starting this week, drivers have been receiving SMSes telling them how much they owe the JMPD in traffic infringements.
An example of the SMS is: “You have outstanding JMPD Traffic Infringement notice/s to the amount of R14 875: Avoid further action.”
The JMPD says this is not a threat, but rather a new service to remind drivers of their outstanding fines.
Violating Aarto
However, considering the SMS says “avoid further action”, Justice Project SA national chairman Howard Dembovsky says the messages do sound like threats.
He questions what further action is being referred to, since the next step as per the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Act is to send out courtesy letters if fines are not paid.
“These have not been sent since June 2010, so what further action can there be? If it's not a threat, what is it? It's not a service.”
Dembovsky says the JMPD is also still violating Aarto by sending fines via normal post rather than registered mail as prescribed by the Act.
“They are quite welcome to send out SMSes. They are also quite welcome to send out carrier pigeons or put up billboards, but threatening does violate Aarto.”
The chairman says he will write to public protector Thuli Madonsela on the matter.
Incorrect charges
Several people came forward to ITWeb after receiving SMSes and many say the amounts in the messages are incorrect.
There has been no indication of how people are selected to be sent SMSes, how frequent the messages will be, and if the amounts could be incorrect.
The JMPD has declined to comment on the matter further, or give details around the new service. It says it will release details soon.
Share
