The Demerit System

Violation Fine Points
Vehicle not registered R1 000 3
Vehicle not licensed R1 000 3
Vehicle with no number plates Court 6
Vehicle with only one number plate R500 2
Driver not licensed R1250 4
Driver's licence not in vehicle R1250 4
Disobeying stop sign or robot R750 2
Exceeding speed limit 11-15km/h R250 0
Exceeding speed limit 16-20km/h R500 1
Exceeding speed limit 21-25km/h R750 2
Exceeding speed limit > 40km/h Court 6
Failing to keep left R1 000 3
Failing to use indicators R500 1
Failing to stop at an accident Court 6
Driving under the influence to stop at an accident Court 6
Furnishing false information Court 6

How does it work?

The points demerit system is administered by the RTIA and serves as a permanent record of a driver, operator or juristic entity’s driving record. Every type of licence or other document starts with zero demerit points. Different infringements carry different numbers of demerit points. Depending on the categorisation of the infringement, each one carries up to 6 demerit points. Some infringements have no demerit points associated with them. Most criminal offences carry 6 demerit points. As infringements are incurred, the requisite number of demerit points are assigned to them.

Demerit points are applied when the fine is paid, an enforcement order is issued, or the person who was charged with a criminal offence is convicted by a court of law. Paying the fine does not prevent the imposition of demerit points. It causes them to be applied.

Demerit points are applied to learners’ licences, driving licenses, vehicle licence discs, operator cards or road transport permits. A learner driver may accumulate up to 6 demerit points without losing his or her driving privileges. A fully licensed driver may accumulate up to 15 demerit points without losing his or her driving privileges.

A juristic entity that fails to nominate the driver of a vehicle it owns accumulates demerit points against the relevant vehicle’s licence disc. Juristic entities’ vehicle licence discs may accumulate up to 15 demerit points before the vehicle’s licence disc is suspended. An operator accumulates demerit points on its operator card and may accumulate up to 15 demerit points before it is suspended. A road transport operating permit accumulates demerit points on its operating permit. An operating permit may accumulate up to 15 demerit points before it is suspended.

Demerit points are reduced at a rate of one point every three months until they again reach zero. When the threshold specified above is exceeded, the relevant document is suspended for three months in respect of each demerit point that has been accumulated, which is over the threshold.

During the suspension period, the affected person may not drive, or the affected vehicle may not be driven. Doing so is a criminal offence.

Allowing another person, who’s driving licence has been suspended, to drive your vehicle is subject to a fine of R3,500.

During the suspension period, a person, operator or juristic person may not apply for a driving licence, professional driving permit, motor vehicle licence disc, operator card or any other permit, card or licence disc issued in terms of road traffic legislation or transport legislation.

Except for a vehicle licence disc and an operating permit, the relevant document may be suspended twice in the lifetime of its holder. Except for a vehicle licence disc and an operating permit, if the demerit points threshold is again exceeded after two suspensions have already occurred, the relevant document is cancelled.
Demerits