The statistics bear testament to enforcement efforts, but also the dire need for stronger legislation to curb continued lawlessness on the city’s roads.

City Traffic Officers impounded 84 vehicles during operations in the last week, made 56 arrests (48 for drunk driving) and issued 3 262 fines for various transgressions.

The vehicle impounds included 59 sedan taxis and 25 minibuses, for operating without a valid operating license or operating in contravention of the conditions of their operating license.

A review of public transport impoundment statistics shows an average of 447 impounds per month in 2018, to 527 in 2019 and a total of 593 impounds in January 2020.

‘We are constantly maligned for the perceived lack of enforcement around the public transport industry, but the statistics say otherwise. Impounding a vehicle is a time-consuming exercise, and very often, the vehicles are reclaimed on the same day. So the next best thing is to tighten legislation that will allow for the permanent impoundment of vehicles belonging to habitual offenders.

‘The City has been lobbying for tougher sanctions, not just for the public transport sector, but all road users who insist on flouting the law. While some of it is within our remit, there are other aspects of the law that reside with other levels of government. But the reality is that no matter how much enforcement we continue doing, nothing will change unless there are real consequences for offenders,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

METRO POLICE

In the last week, the City’s Metro Police Department made 31 arrests for driving under the influence, and a further 21 arrests on various charges including illegal possession of drugs and stolen goods, theft, domestic violence etc. and issued 1 518 fines.

During an operation in Milnerton on Sunday 9 February, officers arrested a 20-year-old driver who left a trail of destruction in his wake.

The driver refused to stop at a vehicle checkpoint, and rammed into two Metro Police patrol vehicles in a bid to get away. Only when his vehicle couldn’t drive further due to the damage sustained, the driver surrendered.

He was arrested on charges of drunk driving and malicious damage to property.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

The City’s Law Enforcement Department made 20 arrests and issued 1 301 fines for various by-law offences.

During a joint operation in Town Centre, Mitchells Plain on Friday 7 February 2020, the following successes were recorded:

13 fines for illegal trading

2 fines for consuming liquor in public

7 cases of impounding goods

20 structures removed in Calypso Square and the Terminus

3 arrests by SAPS for the possession of dangerous weapons

Source: City Of Cape Town