Know your rights on road

Aimee-Lee Verster

Roadblocks in eMalahleni have become a source of frustration and motorists have received big fines from recently installed cameras, reports Witbank News.

On September 25, at a roadblock in Klipfontein a motorist alleged that after being pulled over on her way home from work, a traffic officer informed her she had outstanding fines of R11 000.

These fines were incurred through new portable, unmanned speeding cameras.

However, she was apparently unaware that she had incurred any fines at all.

She further claimed that the traffic officer told her she would only be allowed to leave after she had paid.

Other motorists say their drivers’ licenses were confiscated. Traffic officers were said to have informed them they would only be returned if they paid the amount owed because of outstanding fines at the roadblock itself.

The eMalahleni local municipality spokesperson, Kingdom Mabuza, confirmed there was a roadblock last week, but denied that licenses were confiscated.

“When motorists were stopped, officers requested driver’s licenses to check whether a driver had outstanding fines and/ or a warrant of arrest against his/ her name. It is standard procedure. When that is done, no driver gets harassed or arrested for no reason.”

Motorists are urged to familiarise themselves with their rights at roadblocks.

A traffic officer cannot legally arrest a person unless a warrant has been issued.

A person is within their rights to check if a roadblock is legal by asking to see the roadblock’s certificate of authentication, which must be signed by the national or provincial police commissioner.

Drivers are allowed to see the traffic officer’s certificate of appointment.

People may film and photograph traffic officers at a roadblock. – Caxton News Service.