Traffic Services swoops on road offenders

By Khanyisa Tabata
07 August 2009

The City of Cape Town Traffic Services stopped 50 taxis carrying more than the permissible load of passengers.

Six hundred and ninety eight fines were issued to 135 unlicensed drivers and 73 illegal taxi operators, for 74 passenger overloads, and for various vehicle defects.

Four mechanically defective cars were taken off the road and a motorist was arrested and charged for being in possession of a false driving licence.

“One of the taxis, a Toyota minibus which is registered to carry 14 passengers, was transporting 31,” said Cape Town Traffic Services Chief Inspector Merle Lourens.

Officers focused on collision-causing violations and charged motorists for overtaking on the shoulder, turning in the face of oncoming traffic, following too closely, disregarding red traffic lights and directional arrows and failing to wear their safety belts”.

Last night, the warrants team continued their efforts in recouping money owed to the City for outstanding traffic fines when they conducted house visits in Table View.

Fifty-one warrants were served on seven people. Twenty eight were for outstanding fines on the BMT lane.