A traffic fine in South Africa can come from a metro police department such as the JMPD in Johannesburg, a municipal traffic department such as the City of Cape Town’s, a provincial traffic authority, or, under AARTO, through the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA). Which one issued yours decides how you check it, how you pay, how long you have and how you dispute it.
This hub explains both fine systems and routes you to the guide for your city.
Last checked: 19 September 2026. TrafficDepartment.co.za is an independent guide, not a government website. We do not book appointments, take payments or issue documents. Confirm fees, hours and requirements with the official source before you act: AARTO Online, SAnews, 1 July 2026 and the issuing authority named on your notice.
How traffic fines and AARTO fit together
Two systems run side by side. Under the older Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) route, a fine is a criminal matter handled by the local authority and the courts. Under AARTO it is an administrative infringement with fixed deadlines, a 50% discount for early payment and, eventually, demerit points.
AARTO applied in Johannesburg and Tshwane first, and a second phase began on 1 July 2026 in 62 more municipalities (SAnews, 1 July 2026). See CPA vs AARTO fines and the AARTO guide.
How to check an infringement or fine
- Start with checking your traffic fines, by ID number, vehicle or notice number.
- AARTO fines login: sign in on AARTO Online, the official aarto.gov.za portal, to see infringements in your name. People also search for this as www.aarto.gov.za traffic fines online. See AARTO fines.
- Company and fleet fines: check by ID or business registration number.
- Camera fines: camera fines and viewing a fine photo.
PayCity (paycity.co.za) is a private service that looks up and pays fines for many municipalities by ID number. It is not a government site, so match anything it shows against your own notice, and avoid third-party sites that add fees on top.
JMPD fines in Johannesburg
JMPD is the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, which issues traffic fines across the city. Johannesburg has been under AARTO for years, so JMPD fines are normally AARTO infringements: check and pay them on AARTO Online, where paying within 32 days keeps the 50% discount.
Note that the JMPD licensing department and the fines function are different counters, so confirm which one handles your query before travelling. See JMPD fines and Johannesburg traffic fines.
Cape Town and Western Cape traffic fines
Most Cape Town traffic fines, speeding fines included, come from the City of Cape Town, but camera and roadblock fines can be issued by other authorities. City of Cape Town fines are paid through the channels printed on the notice, and the same rule applies to traffic fines elsewhere in the Western Cape: pay the authority that is actually named.
Whether you search for traffic fines Cape Town, fines Cape Town or traffic fines Western Cape, the answer starts the same way: identify the authority on the notice, then use its channel. See Cape Town traffic fines. Other cities: Durban, including Pinetown traffic fines, Pretoria and Ekurhuleni.
Payment options
CPA fines are paid to the authority that issued them, through its own channels or at its offices. AARTO fines and RTIA fines are paid on AARTO Online. See paying traffic fines and fine discounts.
Keep proof of every payment. A fine that has been paid but not yet updated on the system can still block a licence renewal.
Representations and disputes
How to dispute a traffic fine in South Africa depends on which system issued it:
- AARTO: submit a representation to the RTIA within the deadline on the notice. See AARTO representations.
- Not the driver: nominate the driver, or see proxy and nominated driver.
- CPA fines: to contest a traffic fine, ask the issuing authority in writing for a reduction or withdrawal, or contest it in court. See requesting a reduction.
Demerit-point information
AARTO provides for demerit points that could suspend a licence, but the system is not in force and no start date has been set. Fines issued now do not add points. See demerit points.
Deadlines and enforcement steps
- AARTO: 32 days to pay with the discount, nominate or make a representation, then a courtesy letter and an enforcement order.
- CPA: an unpaid fine can become a summons and then a warrant of arrest. See summonses and warrants.
- Either route can block licence and disc renewals. See admin marks and NaTIS blocked by fines.
Where to get official help
Contact the authority named on the notice, or use AARTO Online for AARTO fines. Municipalities publish their own fines contact addresses, so use the one on your notice rather than a number found elsewhere. For a counter, use traffic department near me or the office directory. Back to the traffic department overview.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay traffic fines at the traffic department?
Often, but only fines issued by that authority. A counter in one municipality usually cannot take payment for another’s fine.
Will an unpaid fine stop my licence disc renewal?
It can. The NaTIS FAQs list an AARTO enforcement order as one reason a disc will not be issued online.
How do I know which authority issued my fine?
The notice names it. Camera and roadblock fines can come from different authorities even within the same city.
I sold the car. Why am I still getting fines?
The change of ownership may not have been registered. See selling a car.
Is this site connected to AARTO, the RTIA or JMPD?
No. TrafficDepartment.co.za is independent and cannot check, pay or dispute fines.