Cape Town - The National Department of Transport’s new requirements for vehicle licence disc renewals cannot be used to withhold a disc for outstanding e-toll fees, the Automobile Association (AA) said on Monday.
The new requirements to provide, among others, proof of residence when applying for a motor vehicle licence disc renewal came into effect on November 1 2015.
The AA emphasised that the current regulations of the National Road Traffic Act do not make provision for the withholding of licence discs for outstanding e-toll fees.
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"While there has been some speculation regarding the details and implications of the new regulation, the AA would like to separate this speculation from fact. Legislation that enables this action has not yet been gazetted," said the AA.
One of the department's new regulations does, however, require all persons to provide proof of residence to acquire a licence disc. The purpose of this regulation, which provides for the verification of address particulars on the eNaTIS system, is to ensure everybody registered on the system "promptly and timeously receive(s) their vehicle and driving licence renewal notices and any other road traffic related communique".
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The regulation applies to all drivers of motor vehicles and all persons registered on the eNaTIS or those who wish to make use of the eNaTIS services, whether they are holders of a valid South African driving licence or are motor vehicle owners.
The regulation states that anyone who does not comply with this notice will not receive their vehicle and driving licence renewal notices and any other road traffic related communication from eNaTIS.
In July this year Fin24 reported that a glitch in a law that would halt the issuing of vehicle licence discs to drivers with unpaid e-toll bills meant non-compliant Gauteng road users won’t have anything to fear – for now.
The Department of Transport’s Gazette 38997, released on 17 July 2015, referenced an e-road regulation that had not as yet been published for comment.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEW REGULATIONS READ HERE.