Metro police crack down
THE City of Cape Town’s Traffic Service had another busy week on the roads, with 139 arrests made and 64 vehicles impounded.
Officers held roadblocks at various locations, including Pinelands, Mfuleni, Bothasig, Table View and Lwandle and arrested 128 motorists for drunk driving. The remaining arrests were for reckless and negligent driving, outstanding warrants, and fraud.
“We receive a steady stream of complaints about taxi drivers and their disregard for the law. This operation is but one example of us pushing back.
“Currently, the operators are able to reclaim their vehicles by paying an impound-release fee, but we continue to lobby for changes to the legislation that will allow us to permanently confiscate the vehicles of repeat offenders on a three-strike system,” said JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security; and social services.
During a four-day, integrated public transport operation in Gugulethu and Nyanga last week, officers impounded 64 sedan taxis and issued 1 592 fines for various offences.
The Metro Police Department made 27 arrests, 16 of which were for driving under the influence. One of the suspects was found to be “sleep-driving” in Mitchells Plain last month.
Smith said a metro police officer was driving along Merrydale Road when she noticed a car moving into the roadway. The officer swerved to avoid a collision and when she pulled up next to the car, she noticed that the driver was fast asleep. She jumped out of her patrol vehicle and banged on the car to wake the driver.
After the driver woke up, the officer helped to park the vehicle. She noticed that the driver reeked of alcohol and the 56-year-old man admitted he had been drinking, as he had attended a wedding. He then offered her a R400 bribe to let him go, but he was detained at the Lentegeur Police Station.
“It’s a blessing that the metro police officer came across this driver, as I shudder to think what might have happened otherwise.
“This type of behaviour is an absolute disgrace, but so too, is the inaction of the people who allowed him to continue drinking and get behind the wheel.”