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The Road Traffic Management Corporation has said that traffic officers are being deployed on all major routes across the country and that drivers who encounter pending traffic tickets will not be allowed.
JOHANNESBURG – No traffic police officer was authorized to stop motorists from continuing their journey if it was determined that they had outstanding traffic tickets, Justice Project South Africa (JPSA) said in response to a recent government announcement.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said traffic officers were being deployed on all major routes in the country and that motorists with outstanding traffic tickets would not be allowed to continue.
This, according to JPSA, was not legal.
“A traffic ticket is not an arrest warrant and should not be considered as such. A judicial officer issues an arrest warrant if a person has been summoned to court and has not appeared.
“A traffic ticket, however, constitutes an allegation of wrongdoing. It is not a bill or a tax. Preventing someone from continuing their journey based on a” pending traffic ticket “constitutes de facto illegal
arrest. Forcing such persons to pay a fine or fines under threat of formal arrest constitutes extortion. “
JPSA President Howard Dembovsky added that it was time for traffic law enforcement officials to start obeying the provisions of the law that applied to them.
“Rather than inciting traffic officers to illegal behavior, the RTMC should act responsibly, focusing on initiatives that promote road safety and save lives, where reckless drivers are stopped before colliding with other road users” , said.
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