“Can’t We Take a Picture?”: SA Gent Breaks Down SA’s R1,000 Fine for Forgetting Driver’s Licence

• South African content creator EJV explained a viral story about a Johannesburg driver who was threatened with arrest after leaving his licence at home
• The Road Traffic Infringement Agency clarified that forgetting a valid licence is not a criminal offence, but drivers can still be fined R1,000
• South Africans online shared their own run-ins with traffic officers over the same issue, with some saying they were fined even more

South African current affairs creator EJV broke down a confusing traffic law on TikTok on 6 August 2026, after a Johannesburg driver’s roadside encounter sparked debate about what officers can actually do when you leave your licence at home.

According to EJV, the Johannesburg driver was pulled over by traffic officers who accused him of jumping a red light. When he could not produce his physical licence card, officers told him he could be arrested on the spot under the new AARTO regulations. The driver handed over his ID and explained that his licence was valid and could be verified electronically, but the officers held firm.

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What AARTO actually says

EJV used a BusinessTech report to clarify the law for his followers. The Road Traffic Infringement Agency confirmed two distinct scenarios. Driving without ever having been issued a licence is a criminal offence and officers can arrest you.

Forgetting your valid licence card at home is a different matter entirely and should not result in arrest. However, it can still land you with a R1,000 fine for failing to carry the physical card.

The agency also acknowledged that confusion around the new AARTO regulations had been widespread, adding that officers would receive additional training to reduce misunderstandings. Officials are also reviewing some of the regulations to make them clearer and limit the risk of abuse.

Watch EJV break down the R1,000 licence fine on TikTok:

Mzansi reacts to the licence fine

South Africans in the comments had plenty to say about their own experiences:

@CoisnSantie wrote:

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“They fined me R1,500. I forget my licence in my wallet and when I realise it, I asked a friend to go and get it and send me a picture of it. Even that did not help to get a fine. They are out to make money.”

@papareags said:

“This is how they going to push Digital IDs. 🫣”

@imraannabie added:

“This government only want money to steal.”

@Alfredo Solomons asked:

“Can’t u just take a photo and keep it on your phone? Because a phone is something you never forget.”

More about traffic fines

• Watchdog organisation OUTA raised serious concerns about the Post Office's ability to reliably deliver traffic notices.
• Chris got stopped by traffic officers for breaking a rule of the road and received a hefty fine.
• A wave of traffic fine scams is sweeping South Africa, with fraudsters sending fake SMS, email and WhatsApp payment demands.

Source: Briefly News