August 30, 2021 News

Everything you need to know about the AARTO demerit system

The AARTO demerit system came into effect on 1 July 2021. What does this mean for you? Find out below and how many points you could lose per infringement.

What is the AARTO demerit system?

The AARTO (the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act) demerit system is an Act amendment that’s been on government’s mind for several years now – and has finally been passed into law. From now on, many road violations will come with demerit points in addition to a fine.

How does the AARTO demerit system work?

First, let’s look at the two types of traffic violations:

• Infringements: AARTO infringements are dealt with on an administrative level. You’ll receive a fine and may accumulate demerit points against your licence.
• Offences: AARTO offences are dealt with in a criminal court, where offenders will be prosecuted and, if found guilty, get a criminal record. Offences also come with demerit points.

Every driver starts with zero points. When you accumulate 15 points, your driver’s licence is suspended for three months, and it takes three months of having a spotless driving record to clear just one point from your name.

If you exceed 15 points, an additional three months will be added for every point over that. So, if you have 16 points, you’ll get a six-month suspension, and so on.

If your licence is suspended three times, it will be permanently suspended, which means you’ll have to retake your learner’s and driver’s tests to legally drive again.

How are the AARTO demerit points allocated?

How will the AARTO demerit system be phased in?

The AARTO demerit system will be introduced in three phases, as follows:

Phase one: Points for speeding, reckless driving, roadworthy and road-sign offences, failure to have a valid driver’s licence or permit, and failure to have a roadworthy certificate.
Phase two: Points for the economic sector for offences and infringements like overloading vehicles and not having cross-border permits. In addition, drivers will get points if they don’t pay their vehicle licence fees on time.
Phase three: Points for not updating personal and contact details such as addresses and vehicle ownership.

AARTO has met with substantial resistance from the public and organisations such as Justice Project South Africa. But for now, it’s here to stay as is.

If you obey the rules of the road, you shouldn’t have any trouble.

Sources: Business Tech; Car Mag; ENCA

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