Check if fine is legit - NPA

2008-01-23 22:57

Johannesburg - Metro police must have permission to use speed cameras on specific roads in Johannesburg, the National Prosecuting Authority said on Wednesday.

Applications to set up camera traps on roads have to be given to the NPA for approval after existing licences expired on Monday, said Gauteng NPA head Charin de Beer.

"A re-application for each area must be submitted and will be approved if they meet specific criteria. Some applications have been accepted, others have been sent back with queries."

De Beer said that by Wednesday 45 applications had been accepted.

More applications were expected to be submitted and licences were valid for one year, she said.

De Beer suggested that motorists who wanted to check if the ticket was from a licensed camera could speak to the traffic prosecutor at their local magistrate's court.

Doing trapping manually

"This does not apply to tickets issues by officers on foot," she said.

Superintendent Wayne Minnaar of Johannesburg metro police said that when the department was made aware of the lapse of licences, all camera traps were suspended.

"All officers who deal with speed law enforcement were instructed to carry out their duties manually," said Minnaar.

Using handheld speed-measuring devices, metro police will issue fines to offending motorists on the spot.

" We have applied for licences for 140 sites in Johannesburg so far, and believe they are in the process of being approved," said Minnaar.

- SAPA