Cops chasing 529 848 fines
2005-02-24 22:31
Theuns van der Westhuizen
Cape Town - Somewhere in the wide expanse of the Cape metropole is a 20-year-old, charging through the streets, with about 300 unpaid speeding tickets to his name.
He, and thousands of others who simply refuse to pay the 529 848 fines issued in their names since January 2002, will soon feel the long arm of the law tapping them on the shoulder.
The city council and the Cape traffic department have decided to allow a final month of grace to the more than 100 000 traffic transgressors for whom arrest warrants have already been issued.
During this period - until the end of March - those who have fines can approach the traffic department, without fear of being taken into custody, and negotiate a date to appear in court.
So said David Erleigh of the mayoral committee responsible for commercial services on Thursday.
'Super cam' will nail offenders
After the month of grace, there will be no more clemency.
Those who have warrants out for them will be arrested at road blocks and taken to court.
The road blocks will be manned with three Star Ranger super traffic cameras that can read the registration number of an approaching vehicle and process the information immediately.
This will show whether there is an outstanding traffic fine or arrest warrant out for that specific numberplate.
Traffic offenders can now pay their fines at any traffic office in the metropole.
Previously, fines had to be paid in the area where the offence was committed.
Drivers can find out if there are outstanding traffic fines against their names by phoning a centralised call centre at (021) 406 8740, (021) 406 8741, (021) 406 8749 or (021) 406 8832.
Previously it was necessary to make enquiries in the administration area concerned.