Havoc over invalid fines

The public protector has been inundated with complaints about alleged invalid traffic fines which were issued more than 30 days after the offences.

Nicolette Teichmann of the protector's office said on Wednesday they didn't investigate complaints regarding traffic fines, but referred the complainants to an office of the director of public prosecution.

Meanwhile, the confusion among motorists and prosecutors regarding certain stipulations of the national prosecutions body continued on Wednesday.

It came to light that some prosecutors were still applying the old stipulations, which were issued by the former offices of the attorney-general.

These stated that fines had to be issued within 40 calendar days, instead of 30 calendar days.

Those stipulations were not applicable anymore, because it has been replaced by the prosecutor's policy document on traffic prosecutions.

Must answer summonses

This document stipulates that traffic fines have to be issued within 30 calendar days.

Motorists are also confused about the difference between a traffic notice and a summons.

The mational prosecution body's stipulations are only applicable to the traffic notice... the first document to be issued when a motorist breaks the law.

This notice stipulates that a summons will be issued if the fine is not paid.

Jan Henning SC, deputy chief of the prosecution body responsible for court management, says a court date and a stamp of the clerk of the court will appear on a summons.

It's stipulated that a fine has to be paid before a certain date and if that isn't done, the offending motorist has to appear in court on the next stipulated date.

Hennings advised motorists not to ignore a summons.

If a motorist does not pay the fine or ignores the court date, a warrant of arrest will be issued.