How Traffic Fines Work in South Africa: AARTO vs the CPA

This guide is general legal information, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, consult an attorney, or contact Legal Aid South Africa (0800 110 110) if you cannot afford one. Information last verified on 23 July 2026.

Which system handles a South African traffic fine, and what happens if it is ignored, depends on where the offence happened. This guide compares the two systems side by side, explains how to check and pay a fine through official channels, and sets out the drink driving limits that apply nationwide either way.

Two Parallel Systems

As of 1 July 2026, South Africa runs two systems for traffic fines at the same time, and both are currently in use. In 62 municipalities, including Johannesburg and Tshwane, an infringement is processed under the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act 46 of 1998 (AARTO), an administrative system with its own notices, discounts, and appeal process. No Western Cape municipality is included in those 62.

Everywhere else in the country, including the whole of the Western Cape, a traffic offence is still processed under the ordinary Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977: a written notice under section 341, or a summons to a Magistrates' Court under section 56 for more serious matters. RTIA's own guidance confirms that fines already issued under the CPA before a municipality moves onto AARTO are not converted; they continue under CPA processing until finalised, while new fines in that area go through AARTO.

How to Check or Pay a Fine

For an AARTO fine, in one of the 62 municipalities, the official channels are online.aarto.gov.za, for querying, paying, nominating a driver, or making a representation, the RTIA Call Centre on 086 122 7861, the AARTO mobile app, or a physical AARTO Service Outlet. RTIA's own website only ever links to aarto.gov.za for these transactions.

For a CPA fine, in the rest of the country, check with the traffic department or Magistrates' Court named on the notice, since there is no single national CPA fine portal equivalent to AARTO's online system.

Be careful of third party 'traffic fine' websites and apps that are not run by RTIA or a government department. RTIA does not endorse them, and paying through an unofficial channel gives you no guarantee that the payment is properly recorded against your infringement. Use official channels only.

What Happens If You Ignore a Fine

The consequences of ignoring a fine depend on which system applies. Under AARTO, taking no action within 32 days of service of the infringement notice brings a courtesy letter, which removes the 50% early payment discount and adds a R100 fee. Taking no further action within 32 days of service of the courtesy letter brings an enforcement order, which electronically blocks the issuing of documents on NaTIS, meaning no driving licence, professional driving permit, or vehicle licence disc can be issued. Once the demerit points system commences, an enforcement order will also be the point at which demerit points are recorded against your name; as of July 2026 the points system is not yet in force. See Got an AARTO Fine? Your Options Explained for how to respond before it gets to that point.

Under the CPA, ignoring a written notice can lead to a summons to appear in a Magistrates' Court. Failing to respond to a summons can lead to further criminal process in the Magistrates' Court.

Drink Driving Is a Criminal Matter, Not an AARTO Infringement

Regardless of whether AARTO or the CPA applies to other fines in the area, drink driving is prosecuted as a criminal offence under the Criminal Procedure Act, not as an AARTO administrative infringement. Under section 65 of the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996, it is an offence to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 grams per 100 millilitres or more (0.02 grams per 100 millilitres for a professional driver), or a breath alcohol concentration of 0.24 milligrams per 1,000 millilitres or more (0.10 milligrams per 1,000 millilitres for a professional driver). Because it is a criminal offence, arrest remains possible in the ordinary way, and none of AARTO's discount, instalment, or representation options apply to it.

More on Traffic Law in South Africa

For the current, uncommenced state of AARTO's demerit points system, see AARTO and the Demerit Points System: What Is Actually in Force. For the wider traffic law picture, see Traffic and Driving Laws in South Africa, and for South African law more broadly, see South Africa Laws.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if AARTO or the CPA applies to my traffic fine?

It depends on where the offence happened. AARTO applies in 62 municipalities as of 1 July 2026, including Johannesburg and Tshwane. It does not include any Western Cape municipality. Everywhere else, the Criminal Procedure Act applies.

Where do I pay a traffic fine online in South Africa?

For an AARTO fine, use online.aarto.gov.za, the official RTIA portal for querying, paying, nominating a driver, or making a representation. There is no single national portal for CPA fines; check with the traffic department or Magistrates' Court named on the notice.

Are third party traffic fine payment websites safe to use?

RTIA's own process only ever links to aarto.gov.za for AARTO transactions. Use official government channels rather than third party sites, since an unofficial payment is not guaranteed to be properly recorded against your infringement.

What happens if I ignore a CPA traffic fine?

Ignoring a written notice under the Criminal Procedure Act can lead to a summons to a Magistrates' Court, and failing to respond to the summons can lead to further criminal process in that court.

What happens if I ignore an AARTO fine?

You receive a courtesy letter if you take no action within 32 days of service of the notice, adding a R100 fee and removing the discount. If you still take no action, an enforcement order follows, blocking licence and vehicle transactions on NaTIS.

Is drink driving an AARTO infringement or a criminal offence?

Drink driving is a criminal offence prosecuted under the Criminal Procedure Act, not an AARTO administrative infringement, regardless of which system applies to other fines in that area.