Your Rights and Duties on the Road

With the holiday season in sight, we take an up to date look at your rights and duties on the road. We cover:

• Your rights and duties when stopped by a traffic officer or at a roadblock
• Latest on AARTO (Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences)
• Latest on e -Tolls
• Offences and fines

Your rights and duties when stopped at a roadblock or pulled over by an officer (“roadside check”)

Law enforcement officials may:

• Search you and/or your property without a warrant at a roadblockif the police can show good cause
• Search you and/or your property at a roadside check without a warrant if you consent to a search or they have reasonable grounds to search
• Seize any “contraband” or evidence without a warrant at a roadblock or a roadside check
• Issue a fine in respect of the vehicle or the driver’s fitness
• Issue a notice to discontinue use of a motor vehicle if it is suspected of being unroadworthy, or impound it if it is clearly unroadworthy
• Arrest any person who has been or is reasonably suspected of being involved in an offence without obtaining a warrant of arrest
• Arrest any person against whom a warrant of arrest has been issued by a Court
• Arrest any person who commits any offence in the officer’s presence
• Inform you of your outstanding traffic fines

Law enforcement officials may not:

• Physically or verbally abuse you or damage your property
• Search you or your property at a roadblock unless there are reasonable grounds or you consent to the search
• Threaten to arrest you
• Force you to pay outstanding traffic fines
• Discontinue or impound your vehicle without reasonable grounds

You may:

• Demand to see an officer's certificate of appointment
• Demand to see the written authorisation of a roadblock
• Refuse to submit to a search at a roadside check, unless there are reasonable grounds for such search

You may not:

• Refuse to provide a breath alcohol or blood sample
• Resist arrest
• Offer or pay a bribe

Finally, be aware that probably the worst thing you can say to a law enforcement official is “I know my rights!” – in an arrogant or aggressive tone, or to tell them how to do their job. This may trigger aggressive and even abusive behaviour on the part of the officer. This may lead to allegations and counter-allegations and eventually land up in court.

Traffic offences and fines

The table below shows a sample of the more common traffic offences and their respective fines. There are of course many more offences and for the full list please visit:
AARTO Road Traffic Penalties

With Legal&Tax you’re not alone

Contact us if you have any questions regarding your rights and duties on the road.

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