Increasingly heftier traffic fines will be imposed in Tshwane City because of the enforcement of AARTO starting November 2025. Law enforcement under AARTO will be much tougher with fines doubling for common violations, and therefore motorists will have to obey the law to escape big monetary fines and demerit points. This article is dedicated to expanding on the changes, their impact, and various ways in which people might adjust to the new set of regulations.
AARTO Roll-Out Nationwide, Implementation in Pretoria
By July 2025, AARTO would have attained full national roll-out and shall usher in a uniform, point-based system of penalties for road safety. It stands as part of Gauteng’s AARTO pilot since 2008; from November 2025, Pretoria shall see an increase in fine levels-for serious offences-being doubled under the City of Tshwane. This is in pursuit of the national agenda to drastically reduce road accidents which had claimed 1,502 lives in the 2024/25 Festive season. The Assigning of Demerit points and suspensions for offenses started in September 2025.
New Fine Amounts and Penalties
Since November 2025, these are the fine increments for common offenses for motorists in Pretoria:
• Speeding (Level 1): Should they be exceeding speed limits by between 10 km/h and 20 km/h, a fine of R2,000 shall apply (previously at R1,000), with demerit points of between 2 and 4.
• Running Red Lights: Fines are trebled to R3,000, with 3 demerit points.
• Use of Mobile Phone Whilst Driving: The fine has doubled, being R2,000 and 2 demerit points.
• Drinking-and-Driving: Fines commence at R10,000 with 6 demerit points, on-the-spot suspension of licence. Illegal Parking – From R500 to R1,000 with 1 demerit point. At 15 demerit points, you are subjected to a 3-month licensing suspension, with any points beyond 15 extending the suspension duration by one month per point.
Reasons for Doubling of Fines
Increasing penalization will restrain the drivers from careless behaviours and ensure compliance, as human error accounts for 87% of road accidents. The enforcement needs to tighten in Pretoria due to the heavy traffic and road accident rate. Annually, Tshwane implements road projects using revenue from these fines and considers fines as one of the key revenue streams for the municipality-R6.26 Billion for the Republic for the year 2023. Hence, I suppose more uneven enforcement and somewhat swifter issuing of contraventions on handhelds will be the recipe to go by.
How to Stay Safe and Save Some Dough
Arrange matters in your favour; thereby avoiding any penalties that must be issued; here is what must be done:
1.Speed limit and make right at traffic lights.
2.Use hands-free technology while on a call.
3.Check for fines regularly online on www.finessa.co.za or www.aarto.gov.za.
4.Pay fines early to get discount.
5.Apply for review on unjust fines through the RTIA objection process.
also read : SASSA September 2025 Grant Payments: Full Schedule and Details