MOTORISTS are urged to settle their outstanding traffic fines and warrants as soon as possible to avoid prosecution.

This follows a court case at the East London Magistrate's Court, in which an offender who had 26 warrants of arrest was sentenced to 300 days in prison or a R9 500 fine. The person's driving licence was also suspended for 12 months.

In the last financial year, the City collected over R6-million out of the R31-million worth of fines owed to it. Between July 2009 and June 2010, over 38 000 fines were issued by Buffalo City law enforcement officers, valued at R34-million.

"An additional 102 480 notices of intended prosecutions were issued," says the City.

In an attempt to tighten the execution of warrants, it has planned to buy a Licence Plate Recognition System (LPRS) before December.

According to the City, the system will help as vehicle registration numbers are scanned and fed into a database. The vehicle in question is immediately identified if it has outstanding fines, and stopped. "This will save time from warrants only being executed at conventional roadblocks where every vehicle has to be checked and each driver checked."

This system will also be used as a mobile unit, whereby a patrol car fitted with the LPRS can patrol parked cars in a street or parking area and identify offenders. The City will also physically visit the homes and businesses of offenders, intensify roadblocks focusing specifically on the executing of warrants of arrest and hold patrol checks.

The City's press statement says that over 1 000 warrants of arrest were executed in June and July. "The main offences are those who exceed the speed limit, stopping and parking offences, unregistered and unlicensed vehicles, overloading of vehicles (passengers) and drivers not having required documents."

It mentions challenges faced in executing warrants, with people changing addresses, personnel and time management and serving of warrants beyond Buffalo City's boundaries.

Motorists can check whether there are any outstanding cases or warrants of arrest against them by contacting the Buffalo City Traffic Department at the East London office on 043 705 9336 / 9341 or email julief@buffalocity.gov.za, or the King William's Town office on 043 604 8371 or 043 642 3361 or email nomawethuj@buffalocity.gov.za, or online on View Fines.

"In doing so, offenders will avoid the embarrassment of being arrested and possibly being detained."

Fines can also be finalised before a warrant of arrest is authorised; a warrant of arrest carries an additional fine of R150.