These speeding tickets are not fine
AFTER the publication of the article, Kelvin Chaos, week ending 23 August, motorists have questioned the legitimacy and fairness of the fines being issued for speeding on Kelvin Drive.
Zainab Goondiwala, a regular user of the road, said she was issued two fines with differing amounts for doing the same speed on the road.
She had not received the fines via post and only knew about them through her online banking.
“How can they charge you different fines for the same speed, on the same road, on different days?” asked Goondiwala.
The fines indicated the speed penalty of 76-80 km/h on both tickets, but the penalty fee of the fines was different. One fine was issued on 25 May and it was billed at R1 500. The other fine was issued on 9 June and it was billed at R750.
Edna Mamonyane of the Metro police said the 76-80 km/h stated on the fine meant that the exact speed penalty was within 76km/h and 80km/h. “She must go to the courts and get the exact speed for each ticket,” said Mamonyane.
Nazier Mohammad, another motorist who uses Kelvin Drive, said he received two traffic fines with no penalty fee listed on the ticket. Both were delivered to his house by a man in a white Toyota Conquest. The fines were for an 80km/h and 82km/h speed penalty. Mohammad went to enquire at the Randburg Magistrates Court, and on arrival his ticket of 80km/h was confiscated and the other one of 82km/h was stamped and signed by an official at the court. The official made a note on the fine that Mohammad had to pay R2 000.
“When I asked where the R2 000 charge came from, I was dismissed abruptly and he said he is in charge and he will put on whatever amount he wanted,” said Mohammad.
Mamonyane said Mohammad’s ticket was a direct summons issued by an officer. “Any ticket without a penalty fee on it just means that the person must appear in court.” She added that Metro police had no involvement in what took place at the courts and said Mohammad should discuss the issue with a prosecutor.
Metro police spokesperson, Wayne Minaare said anyone who wanted to dispute their fines should visit the website www.aarto.gov.za for more information or contact the call centre on 086-123-1123. Mamonyane said motorists could also visit the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s website, www.rtmc.co.za for further information on their fines.
