Pretoria - The Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) says media reports that do not fully capture the processes proposed to address and enhance efficiencies in the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act are baseless.
The agency’s spokesperson, Mthunzi Mbungwana, said the assertion by The Star that the RTIA quietly approached Parliament to change the law was “unfounded and misleading”.
“Furthermore, the impression created that the bill seeks to replace registered mail by ordinary mail is completely incorrect.
“The amendment bill does not eradicate the traditional methods of service by registered mail or in person.
“It simply introduces other methods, in addition to these tried and tested methods, in order to introduce the related technological efficiencies, which will benefit all stakeholders concerned,” he said.
According to Mbungwana, the intention of the draft AARTO Amendment Bill, 2013 published in the Government Gazette on 28 June for public comment, is to address the challenges identified and experienced in the act.
The bill seeks to introduce, among other issues, the simplification of the application of the act and the introduction of modern and effective means of service of documents.
In order to address critical issues affecting the agency, the abridged version of the bill has been published for public comment for 30 days from 28 June.
The bill is intended to introduce efficiencies in the service of documents; hence some of the proposals contained therein are service by electronic platforms.
Legislative amendments are the function of government and the process to amend the act has been subjected to an extensive public consultation process from as far back as February 2013, when the amendment bill was published for comment and various stakeholders and interested parties submitted their input for consideration. - SAnews.gov.za
