The City of Cape Town last week sent out a stern warning to motorists to check their fines status and to settle any outstanding amounts to avoid ending up behind bars.
In the first five months of this year, City traffic officers executed 30 924 warrants.
For April and May alone, the value of the warrants attached to the arrests was over R25 million.
“Officers have the equipment in their vehicles to check if there is outstanding fines or warrants against you and in the event that you are stopped in a roadblock and it is found that the warrant was not served on you in person, the officer will serve it to you on the spot,” explains Rhynhardt Bresler, ward councillor for Kraaifontein and Brackenfell and member of the City’s safety portfolio committee.
You will then either be released on a warning with a new court date or taken into custody.
“There, they (offenders) will have to await a court appearance to apply for bail, and if they are unable to pay the bail amount they remain in custody until their trial date,” reads a statement issued by the City. Among those already arrested were several individuals who find themselves on the City’s list of Top 100 offenders or scofflaws.
No regard for law and order
“There is no way that someone can amass dozens, if not hundreds of fines and not be aware of them. Nor is it possible that it is purely accidental. They clearly have no regard for law and order, and are taken into custody when apprehended,” says JP Smith, the City’s Mayco member for safety and security.
In addition, any person with outstanding warrants is unable to transact on the national Traffic Information System (Natis), which means they are unable to renew their vehicle licence, driving licence or transfer ownership of a vehicle.
“These scenarios need not apply if motorists are accountable for their actions and pay their fines on or before the due date. Ideally, motorists should abide by the law and not incur fines in the first place, but we all know that the reality is a very different story. The City thanks those motorists who do take responsibility for their actions and who settle their fines timeously. The scofflaws should take their cue from you, or run the risk of getting into very serious trouble,” says Smith.
