Motorists should take advantage of the deadline extension for public comments on the Administration and Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Bill and make submissions.

Justice Project chairman Howard Dembovsky  has urged motorists to read the bill: “People need to understand this bill and its implications because it will affect every person who drives.”

The deadline for comment has been extended until the end of August 2016.

The Aarto Amendment Bill is meant to make it easier for government to implement the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act of 1998 and the national roll-out of the Aarto programme.

The Aarto system, which involves motorists receiving demerits for traffic violations, has been in operation in Tshwane and Johannesburg municipalities since 2008.

Dembovsky said one of the Amendment Bill’s provisions would allow transport authorities to send infringement notices via SMS.

“How they think they will be able to provide about 1000 words of information in 140 characters is beyond me.” he said.

The bill can be accessed at pmg.org.za, under “Call for Comments”. 

The Mercury