First licence suspension

**Ore** · 2010/12/13, 07:41 PM

First licence suspension under new law

A KZN man has lost his licence for three months after being trapped at 202km/h.

A KwaZulu-Natal man was the first speedster to have his licence suspended on Thursday after an amendment to the National Road Traffic Act came into force, the transport department said.
Spokesman Logan Maistry said that Nkosinathi Gumede, 51, was caught travelling at 202 kilometres per hour in a 120 kph zone in his Mercedes Benz SLK last month.
The Scottsburgh Magistrate's Court on Thursday fined Gumede R20,000 or three years in jail. He further had his licence suspended for three months.
Previously any driver caught driving drunk or recklessly could have their licence suspended by a court in terms of the National Road Traffic Act.
The Act was amended to included speeding among the criteria for which motorists could have their licences suspended. The amendment came into effect in November.

**Apocalypse** · 2010/12/13, 07:45 PM

good.

what more can I say?

**OFFROAD ADDICT** · 2010/12/13, 07:55 PM

I somehow don't think this is going to be the last one either.

**ghost_traffic** · 2010/12/13, 07:56 PM

Now take note everybody.

It says that the licence was "suspended" and not "confiscated". He still has his driver's licence.

People that drive without a licence don't have a deterrent. According to AARTO, they cannot even be charged, since an ID number is a requirement.

My 2c worth.

Nico.

**Elders** · 2010/12/13, 08:19 PM

Nico now when a person is pulled over for speeding/reckless driving etc and does not have a license / ID / passport surely these people must be detained untill it can be determined if they "pose a flight risk" .....

or am I totally over optimistic ......

**ghost_traffic** · 2010/12/13, 08:25 PM

True ChrisF. A docket is opened at the nearest SAPS for reckless/negligent driving.

I'm talking about a normal ticket issued for an everyday offence. AARTO requires an ID number and any person without a licence or ID must be detained.

Thank goodness we have not gone over to AARTO yet.

Nico.

**Apocalypse** · 2010/12/13, 08:30 PM

what is the penalty for driving with a suspended licence?

**Elders** · 2010/12/13, 08:30 PM

Nico I heard on the radio last week that "the group" that was apposing AARTO and going to court to contest it withdrew their case .... It was then said that they expect AARTO to be implemented by March 2011.

Is this correct, or another case of "partial broadcasting" ?

**Elders** · 2010/12/13, 08:32 PM

Apoc I think the biggest penalty with suspention is for the "legal drivers" that now loose their insurance for 3 months ...

Would be interesting to see if discounted premiums will be coupled to your points history in a few years .....

**ghost_traffic** · 2010/12/13, 08:35 PM

At this point in time there is nothing in black and white, ChrisF.

As soon as I know, the Forum will know.

Nico.

@Apocalypse. The answer to getting caught driving with a suspended licence is "Do not pass begin, do not collect R200 and go directly to jail."

**Elders** · 2010/12/13, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by ghost_traffic

@Apocalypse. The answer to getting caught driving with a suspended licence is "Do not pass begin, do not collect R200 and go directly to jail."

OUCH !

If they apply this it surely WILL get people to start paying attention.

Now for a different question - if your car license is suspended, does this mean that your motorcycle license is automatically also suspended ?

**ghost_traffic** · 2010/12/13, 09:09 PM

Now that is a good question ChrisF. I would think "yes", but I don't know.

I'll look into it.

Nico.

**ghost_traffic** · 2010/12/13, 09:24 PM

BTW Off topic but bear with me.

In the very near future, each class of vehicle licence will have to be done up to and including the one you want.

eg. If you want a big bike licence, you will first have to pass A1 to be able to do A.

If you want a truck licence, you will first have to pass B, C1 before C and EC1 before EC.

That is the latest discussions. We'll know the outcome in due time.

Nico.

**Apocalypse** · 2010/12/13, 09:33 PM

yeah I saw that - personally I don't think it's cool - if you've got a code 14 you should be allowed to drive a scooter!!!

on the other hand - I do think if you lose your licence to drive a scooter - you lose the privledge of driving your 40 ton truck as well...

**Henris** · 2010/12/13, 09:38 PM

That is how it worked in the Army, but I foresee a problem. With all the delays and ques, they want to load the system with even more tests?

**OFFROAD ADDICT** · 2010/12/13, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Apocalypse

yeah I saw that - personally I don't think it's cool - if you've got a code 14 you should be allowed to drive a scooter!!!

on the other hand - I do think if you lose your license to drive a scooter - you lose the privilege of driving your 40 ton truck as well...

Some people found it easier passing out on a truck so you didn't have to do parking and certain other things, but as Nico said this is going to change. Rightly so.
My pet hate is all the vehicles with no number plates. When they are stopped they say it was stollen or lost and the official buys this nonsence. I say give the guy a ticket and he can explain to the magistrate or court officials. This inconvenience will drive them mad. In fact to inconvienience the culprit is more of a problem for him than the fine. Time is money you see.

**Apocalypse** · 2010/12/13, 09:47 PM

I suppose I can see the sense in - drive a car for a year, you can go for a light truck, drive that for a year you can drive a medium truck etc.

on the other hand - the big truck drivers are seriously probably the best drivers on the road. no one hands over a miilion bucks worth of truck and load to a guy thats not pretty serious about his work.

funnily enough - never seen the big rig owners pass the keys to their porsche over to the rig drivers!!!

**Apocalypse** · 2010/12/13, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by OFFROAD ADDICT

Some people found it easier passing out on a truck so you didn't have to do parking and certain other things, but as Nico said this is going to change. Rightly so.
My pet hate is all the vehicles with no number plates. When they are stopped they say it was stollen or lost and the official buys this nonsence. I say give the guy a ticket and he can explain to the magistrate or court officials. This inconvenience will drive them mad. In fact to inconvienience the culprit is more of a problem for him than the fine. Time is money you see.

hehe - as far as I know you still have to alley dock a double trailer truck if you want the code 14 licence!!!

bit more difficult than parking a Getz!!!!

but yeah - big change for all of us - enforced traffic laws!!!!

I think my number plate is still damaged after the mud hole

**Apocalypse** · 2010/12/13, 10:07 PM

just thinking - when I was in UK a guy I did some work for had his licence 'suspended' for drunken driving. for a year...

he had a new merc at the time - he was double the UK limit which was at that time our limit - with depreciation taken into account he was better off selling the car to cover the taxi fares, and was a real pain with lifts.

but after his year - as far as I recall he had to redo his test - including learners licence and the mandatory lessons and 3 months of driving on L plates (compulsory to have learner plates in the UK, which also means no highways....)

no way he would dare to drive without a licence there...

I think the embaressment factor was worse than any fine...

**Boggom** · 2010/12/13, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by OFFROAD ADDICT

Some people found it easier passing out on a truck so you didn't have to do parking and certain other things, but as Nico said this is going to change. Rightly so.
My pet hate is all the vehicles with no number plates. When they are stopped they say it was stollen or lost and the official buys this nonsence. I say give the guy a ticket and he can explain to the magistrate or court officials. This inconvenience will drive them mad. In fact to inconvienience the culprit is more of a problem for him than the fine. Time is money you see.

I had the pleasure of loosing my front nuber plate on my bakkie one day in the plantations while taking some costomers to view a forestry machine they wanted to buy. Only noticed it the evening when I got home, but that was it. 7h00 the next morning while on my way to Pietermaritzburg for a meeting, I was pulled over on the N2 just before Durban by a cop car that I passed a few k's back, and fined for it - I tried to explain, but was told "Sorry sir, the boy racers drive around with out plates to avoid fines - here a R500 fine for you, go explain to the magistrate your story"
I went on to the meeting, and about 15h00 that afternoon on my way back, got pulled over again just outside Pietermaritzburg for the same thing - showed the officer my fine from the morning and he let me go.
So yes, the guys here in KZN does have a zero tollerance it seems - beware when travelling here over the holidays.