Failure to pay e-tolls a criminal offence

Communications General Manager at the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral), Vusi Mona, says failure to pay toll fees is not only a traffic offence, but a criminal offence too.

“We appeal to law abiding citizens not to be misled by those who support lawlessness. It is important to note that not paying your toll fees is not just a traffic offense, but a criminal one.

“This has been so since 1998. It is not something new that has been recently introduced. Not paying toll fees may have unintended consequences which can affect one’s life.

“The law does not force you to have an e-tag, but it is clear on the issue of paying. The legal obligation to pay tolls arises from using the toll road and passing underneath a gantry, not from an invoice that is forwarded to the road user.

“There are signs posted along tolled roads making this clear – which includes the obligation to pay the toll within seven days,” he said.

Mona said non-payers will be charged under the applicable legislation and the route to be followed when issuing a charge is not the same as for a traffic offence.

“Anybody who says anything else is misleading the road-using public. Sanral will follow the normal process applicable to debt collection, and use a convenient method of communication in notifying the debtor of its debt for using the toll road.

“Sending invoices to those who have not paid does not amount to sharing information with third parties, as has been alleged.

“Sanral is using legally available resources at its disposal to contact vehicle owners. We are issuing notices, with invoices to follow, in order to alert road users that they have outstanding debt,” he said.

He said it was regrettable that there were some organisations which still contest the legality of e-tolling outside court processes. – SAnews.gov.za