1. Where can I find out if I have outstanding traffic fines?
2. What are the different types of traffic fines?
3. Where can I view my speed-camera photo?
4. How can I pay my traffic fine?
5. Can I pay my traffic fine electronically?
6. How much time do I have to pay my traffic fine?
7. Can I contest a fine?
8. What happens if I don't pay my traffic fine?

Call Traffic Inquiries during office hours (Monday to Friday, 8am to 3.30pm) on 0860 034 637. If you would like a printout of your fine, you will have to go to the traffic department in person.

If you suspect that the traffic department may be sending fines to an old address, please fax your new address (physical and postal), along with a copy of your ID, to Motor Vehicle Registrations on (021) 419 1676. Mark it for the attention of the Correspondence Department. Call Motor Vehicle Registrations on (021) 400 4900 if you need further information about this.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRAFFIC FINES?

There are two kinds of traffic fines: Instant Summons and a 341 Traffic Ticket.

• Instant Summons is issued when a traffic officer pulls a motorist over to issue a fine for the following: a moving violation (for example, speeding or going through a red traffic light), a default on your motor vehicle (for example, a broken taillight), an expired motor-vehicle licence or for driving a vehicle without a driver's licence.
• A 341 Traffic Ticket is issued when a motorist is caught violating a traffic regulation by camera (for example, when speeding) or when a traffic officer issues a ticket when the motorist is not present (this is the pink ticket issued for parking violations, expired licence disks and so on).

WHERE CAN I VIEW THE SPEED-CAMERA PHOTO?

If the camera fine's notice number starts with a "9"or a "4", you can viewed it online at www.payfine.co.za. (Please note that this does not mean you can pay it online.)

To view your photos you will need to know:

• The municipal district in which the photo was taken


• Your vehicle registration number


• The film number, which appears in the traffic fine.

Camera fines that start with "2" can only be viewed at Parow Traffic, Oostenberg Traffic, Helderberg Traffic, Milnerton Traffic South Peninsula Traffic and Cape Town Traffic between 8.30am and 3pm.

HOW CAN I PAY MY TRAFFIC FINE?

If you are paying before the due date, you can pay your traffic fine by cheque, cash or postal order:

• Cheques and postal orders should be made out to City of Cape Town.
• Payment can be made either in person at the traffic department (find the address at Municipal Traffic Departments) or mailed to:
  Private Bag X019
  Roggebaai
  8012
  
• Given the levels of fraud and theft in the Post Office, it is not recommended to send cash by post.
• If you are a First National Bank customer, you can also pay your fine at any FNB ATM using your fine reference number.

If you wish to pay on or after the due date, you can do so by cash or bank-guaranteed cheque at the court mentioned on the fine (find the address at Municipal Courts). You will have to make the payment in person no longer than 14 days after the due date. On the fourteenth day, your case will appear in court.

If you do not wish to pay your fine you will have to appear in court, in person, on your court date to argue your case. If you are not there to argue your case, a warrant for your arrest will automatically be issued.

CAN I PAY MY TRAFFIC FINE ELECTRONICALLY?

There is no online facility to pay for fines issued by the City of Cape Town.

If you are a First National Bank customer, however, you can pay your fine at any FNB ATM using your fine reference number.

HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE TO PAY MY TRAFFIC FINE?

Depending on whether you have been issued an Instant Summons or a 341 Traffic Ticket, you have between 30 days and four months to pay your traffic fine.

An Instant Summons has a court date and you have 30 days from the date of issue to pay the fine at the traffic department or at the court mentioned on the summons. If you pay the fine on the date of your court appearance, you will have to pay it in person at the court.

If you receive a 341 Traffic Ticket, you have 30 days before the Traffic Department will issue a "Notice Before Summons", after which you will have another 30 days before the summons will actually be issued.

After the summons is issued, you have another 30 days to pay your fine to the Traffic Department. After the 30 days have passed, you have another 14 days of grace in which you can pay your fine at the court mentioned on the summons.

So in total, you have approximately four months to pay your traffic fine after receiving a 341 ticket.

CAN I CONTEST A FINE?

If you plan to contest your fine send a letter stating your reasons, along with a copy of your fine, to the Gallows Hill Traffic Department. You can also fax the information to 021 421 6607. You should receive an acknowledgement of receipt from the traffic department within about three weeks.

The Traffic Manager will then send your letter to the relevant court. The Public Prosecutor at the court will review the fine, which takes a maximum of two days, after which the letter and the decision will be sent back to the Traffic Manager, where it is re-captured. This process takes approximately three weeks. The whole process takes about six weeks.

You can also contact the Public Prosecutor directly at the court that appears on your fine. If you have received a summons, you should contact the Public Prosecutor before the date you are due to appear in court.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T PAY MY TRAFFIC FINE?

If, for example, the traffic fine has been issued in error you may plead your case in court on the court date of your summons.