MOTORISTS OWE ETHEKWINI R2 BILLION IN TRAFFIC FINES

Errant motorists owe the eThekwini Municipality more than R2 billion in unpaid fines, which date back to 2005. The top offender was a truck owner who had received 462 fines for various offences, including parking and speeding, amounting to R502 600. A taxi owners received 962fines, for various offences, amounting to R305 200. These fines did not only apply to motorists, but to building owners as well. The city had identified about 95 buildings in poor condition. Metro Police will also be embarking on a massive recruitment drive to add 800 officers to their team by 2019

Source: https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/motorists-owe-ethekwini-r2bn-in-traffic-fines-12543874

NEARLY 1 MILLION CARS STOPPED THIS FESTIVE SEASON

Traffic authorities around the country have stopped and checked almost a million vehicles and tested over 100,000 drivers for drunk driving so far during the festive season. More than 924,000 vehicles had been stopped and checked at various roadblocks in law enforcement operations throughout the country since the start of the festive season. Most of the vehicles were stopped in Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and the Western Cape. More than 105,000 drivers were tested for alcohol and 2,247 drivers were arrested for having alcohol blood content above the legal limit. The highest number of arrested drunk drivers were in Gauteng, followed by Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape. The top five offences based on written traffic notices issued were speed with 46,029 drivers fined; driving without licences with 15,538 drivers fined; driving unlicensed vehicles with 14,174 drivers fined; driving without fastening seatbelts with 13,554 drivers fined; and overloading of goods with 5,388 drivers fined

Source: https://www.enca.com/south-africa/traffic-authorities-ready-for-new-year-festivities-says-rtmc

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN DEALING WITH ROAD BLOCKS

Roadblocks should not be seen as merely a fine collection or a money-generating exercise, but as something that is important for the safety of all road users.

There are two different types of roadblocks in SA: Informal roadblocks are set up at random, often on major roadways or at the end of an off-ramp, while the K78, a provincially or nationally-approved roadblock, is an official roadblock where police officers can legally search vehicles and even conduct full body searches if required.

     1.      Follow the directions of traffic officers;
     2.      You have the right to verify the roadblock;
     3.      Know what police can and cannot arrest you for;
     4.      If your car is unroadworthy you can be stopped from driving it further;
     5.      Gather as much evidence as you can;
     6.      Uniformed officers have the right to stop any vehicle;
     7.      You have the right to film the police;
     8.      You can be arrested for verbally abusing an officer.

WHEN CAN A MOTORIST BE ARRESTED?

Police have the power to arrest without a warrant any driver who:.

     1.      Is believed to be unfit to drive as a result of consuming alcohol or drugs;
     2.      Has been seen driving dangerously, recklessly or carelessly;
     3.      Is wilfully obstructing the roadway;
     4.      Is suspected of driving while disqualified - that is, while his or her licence is cancelled;
     5.      Is suspected of having committed a crime or being about to commit a crime.