A suspect was arrested following a pursuit with Ghost Squad officers during an operation at a sunset ‘park-off’ event in Sea Point, Cape Town as part of 474 arrests made by City enforcement departments over the past week.
The Ghost Squad conducted an operation in Sea Point on Sunday 18 October, amid complaints of wheel spinning, reckless driving and racing along Beach Road during sunset ‘park-off’ events.
When officers tried to pull over a white BMW for reckless and negligent driving, the driver accelerated in a bid to get away. At a parking area in Green Point, he lost control and side-swiped another vehicle, the City said.
Officers conducted a breathalyser test that put the suspect well over three times the prescribed legal limit.
The driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless and negligent driving. The vehicle was impounded in terms of the City’s Traffic By-law.
Two more vehicles were impounded during the operation for operating without licence plates.
“We issue repeated warnings to road users about their dangerous and unlawful behaviour, to no avail,’ said Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith. “This particular park-off gathering and the many other illegal racing events around the city elicit ongoing complaints from the public, and for good reason. We’ve impounded several vehicles since the amended Traffic By-Law came into effect, so I advise scofflaws to tread carefully or face the same consequence. There are legal ways to exercise their need for speed without putting the public at risk, so they really have no excuse for their behaviour.”
Traffic officers
Traffic Officers arrested 45 suspects — 34 for drunk driving, six for reckless and negligent driving, and five on other charges. They executed 1 342 warrants, impounded 198 public transport vehicles, and issued 59 227 fines, in the past week the City said.
Law enforcement
Law Enforcement officers made 282 arrests and issued 12 393 notices.
Metro Police
Metro Police arrested 158 suspects, recovered six hijacked and/or stolen vehicles, two prohibited firearms and 23 rounds of ammunition, and issued 6 900 fines for various transgressions, the City said.
Public Emergency Communication Centre
The Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) recorded 2 604 calls, including 117 physical assault-related incidents, 53 domestic violence cases and 74 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents. Call agents also dealt with 425 noise nuisance complaints.
The public is reminded to report incidents and emergencies, or any suspicious and/or criminal activities, to the PECC on 021 480 7700, or to log by-law and traffic-related complaints using the Safety and Security feature on the City App.
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