The admission of guilt fine is regulated by Section 57 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977. The purpose of allowing payment of an admission of guilt fine is to enable a person to admit guilt in advance and thereby avoid having to appear in Court on a “minor” criminal charge. Admission of guilt fines paid in respect of minor offences such as low category speeding and unlawful parking (traffic offences) is governed by various acts, for example the Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 and the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act 46 of 1998, and do not result in a criminal conviction being recorded against the name of the person paying the fine.
