Demerit system for errant drivers has many 'gaping holes', says advocate

Legal guru advocate Jackie Nagtegaal says administration will be the biggest challenge facing the Aarto bill's implementation.

A bill that will introduce a demerit system for errant drivers has finally been passed by the National Assembly.

The controversial Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) bill is step closer to implementation in South Africa.

Read: What the Aarto Amendment Bill means for motorists

Legal expert advocate Jackie Nagtegaal says administration will be the biggest challenge facing the implementation of the bill.

It will be interesting to see if they are capable of implementing it perfectly.

Advocate Jackie Nagtegaal, Law For All's Managing director

The Aarto bill creates a National Road Traffic Offences Register which will centralise how infringements and traffic offenders are recorded on one system.

While the new register system is expected to handle charging much larger volumes of offenders, Nagtegaal says it is also open to a great deal of corruption.

She adds that the liability of traffic violations in the Aarto bill can also create uncertainty.

A car owner is also liable to the fine or punishment [unless proven otherwise]. This call for great uncertainty.

Advocate Jackie Nagtegaal, Law For All's Managing director

There's a lot of room for escaping accountability and the system by registering car to a company. A lot of gaping holes.

Advocate Jackie Nagtegaal, Law For All's Managing director

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