NEWCASTLE – The scourge of cloned licence plates have left a local motorist with the bill.
In September, Rajah Reddy received an e-Toll invoice for R4,92, bearing the image of a vehicle he doesn’t own, driving in an area he claimed to have never been to.
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“The police did not find evidence of a duplicate on the system, but have proof of false plates in the country. I want to bring this to the public’s attention.”
An employee at the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) confirmed cases like Mr Reddy’s were surprisingly common.
In fact, many cloned plates were made to foil systems such as e-Toll.
“They will take the registration to drive on e-roads, and motorists will get sent their fines.”
Locally, cloned plates result in many residents receiving fines they did not deserve, said a source within the Traffic Department.
Another problem is foreign licence plates on imported vehicles.
The source explained the cloning of a licence plate was a criminal offence, although many cloners used the same or similar vehicle makes to evade suspicion.
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“It’s good for motorists to keep proof of their whereabouts.”
If you’ve been slapped with a fine or bill like Mr Reddy, here’s what you can do:
According to SANRAL, a motorist who discovers their registration has been cloned must complete a VPC Representation Form.
This form is available digitally from the SANRAL e-Toll webpage.
Once the form is completed, the motorist is required to get a stamp from a Commissioner of Oaths, and submit the document with a certified copy of their Identity Document, proof of vehicle registration and the invoice.
This should all be sent by registered mail.
