The Department of Transport has poured cold water on Pretoria Metro Police’s intention of fining motorists who have not yet changed to the new credit-card style driver’s licence by September 1.
The Department of Transport has poured cold water on Pretoria Metro Police’s intention of fining motorists who have not yet changed to the new credit-card style driver’s licence by September 1.
CARtoday.com reported on Wednesday that the Pretoria Metro Police had said that from September it would no longer recognise licences stamped in identity documents and could impose R500 fines. But the Department of Transport’s website states that though motorists born in May have until August 31 to get their new licence, there will be a grace period until February 2003 for all. The procedure started in March 1998, with motorists born in June being the first to obtain the new licence.
Department of Transport spokesman Mike Mabasa told CARtoday.com on Thursday it was understandable that there was confusion on the issue and insisted that nobody would be fined for not having the new credit-card licence in September. “We have seen the statement from Pretoria, raised it with the metro police concerned and informed them that this is not the case,” said Mabasa. “We have to have consistency in the matter and one province cannot fine motorists for a certain offence, while others are not.”
Mabasa said the department had asked the provincial departments to send in progress reports of how many motorists have switched over to the credit-card system. “Once we have all of these reports we can then take a decision on any revision to the ruling (that motorists have until February 2003 to get the new licence) and the public will be informed,” he said. He hoped to have a decision by the weekend.
“It is not an easy process. We also need to liase with the departments of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs on this matter to establish which motorists have left the country or passed away,” he said.
Mabasa added that a revision to the ruling, and a decision to fine motorists, involved a policy issue. “Policy decisions are made by the Department of Transport and not provincial departments,” he said.
The spokesman said the Pretoria department’s statements also had constitutional implications. “We cannot fine motorists in Pretoria for not having the new licence, while those in Cape Town will not be fined. This is discrimination. When we do decide to punish people for this offence we will do it across the country.”
CARtoday.com asked other provincial metro police departments on Wednesday to find out their plans. Johannesburg and Bloemfontein said they would not be fining motorists for not having the new licence until after the deadline in February 2003, and Cape Town said it had not received any instructions to the contrary.
