By Buziwe Nocuze
- Two taxi drivers in Mitchell’s Plain were caught with nearly R400,000 in unpaid fines between them.
- New technology helps traffic officers catch drivers with outstanding fines even while on the move.
Two Mitchell’s Plain taxi drivers tried to dodge traffic cops but ended up in handcuffs – with unpaid fines worth nearly R400,000 between them.
One driver made a U-turn when he saw officers on Highlands Drive but they chased and caught him trying to run into a house in Colorado.
When they checked his details, they found he had 69 unpaid fines worth R105,310.
Just two hours later, officers stopped another minibus taxi on Jakes Gerwel Drive. This driver had broken his taxi permit rules, and his vehicle was taken away.
But that wasn’t all – the 45-year-old driver had 85 unpaid fines totalling R285,600.
Cape Town’s Safety boss JP Smith said these drivers show how some people don’t care about road laws.
“These fines and warrants represent a level of audacity that is far too commonplace. The disdain that many road users have for the law, and the agencies tasked to enforce it, is something that needs to be addressed,” said Smith.
He warned that new technology means officers can check for unpaid fines in minutes, even while driving.
“With the technology that we have introduced, it is possible to determine in minutes whether a driver has outstanding fines or warrants. Officers can even do these checks while in motion, using Automated Number Plate Recognition software. So the scofflaws should consider themselves warned,” said Smith.
Last week, traffic officers:
– Made 35 arrests
– Caught 21 drunk drivers
– Gave out 55,568 fines
– Took away 262 taxis
Pictured above: Traffic officers.
Source: Arrive Alive
