Traffic fines explained: AARTO, the old court system, and what to do about a fine

Two systems run in parallel, and which one applies to you depends on where and by whom the fine was issued. Recognising which system you are in determines everything that follows - the deadline, the appeal route and the consequences of inaction.

The two systems

	AARTO	Court-based (Criminal Procedure Act)
Issued under	Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act	Criminal Procedure Act
Process	Administrative - pay or elect trial	Criminal - notice to appear, then court
Demerit points	Yes, on the driver	No
Consequences of ignoring	Reminder, enforcement order, block on transactions	Warrant of arrest
Phasing	Province by province	Still in use where AARTO is not applied

AARTO has been introduced incrementally, so a driver can receive an AARTO infringement in one province and an older-style notice in another in the same week. The notice itself states its basis, and that is the first thing to read.

Reading the notice

Whatever the system, a notice tells you:

• what the alleged infringement was and where,
• the date and time,
• the amount payable, and the discount period if one applies,
• the deadline for responding, and
• the options available: payment, or a formal dispute.

The deadline is the part people miss. Either system gives you a window, and the remedies narrow sharply once it closes.

Demerit points

Under AARTO, points are recorded against the driver, not the vehicle, for certain infringements. Accumulating enough points suspends the driving licence for a defined period, and points lapse after a period without further infringements.

Two practical consequences:

1. The points attach to whoever was driving. A notice issued to a vehicle owner for an infringement committed by someone else is not the end of the enquiry - the owner can identify the driver.
2. A suspended licence is not a technicality. Driving while suspended carries its own consequences, and insurance cover is affected.

Disputing a fine

Under AARTO, representations are made within the period stated on the notice. Under the older system, you elect to be tried in court, and the matter is heard there.

In both systems, what helps is evidence: photographs, a vehicle record showing you were elsewhere, a service record, a statement from the driver if it was not you. What does not help is a decision to ignore the notice and explain later - by the time you have an opportunity to explain, the process has moved on without you.

Fines and licensing transactions

Outstanding fines surface at the least convenient moment: a licence disc renewal, a change of ownership, or a roadworthy. Where an enforcement order exists, the licensing authority can refuse to process the transaction until it is settled.

The practical habit that avoids all of this is simple: open the notice when it arrives, decide within the response period, and keep proof of whatever you did. The licence disc guide covers what else can block a renewal, and the roadworthy guide covers the testing side.

Last reviewed 13 October 2026. AARTO is being phased in by province and its regulations have been amended repeatedly; confirm the system that applies to your notice with the RTIA or the issuing authority.