Over the past week, the City of Cape Town’s enforcement agencies made 284 arrests and issued 65 709 fines.
This includes the arrest of a 29-year-old taxi driver whose blood alcohol content was recorded at 0.13 grams per 1 000ml of breath.
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The legal limit for professional drivers is 0.10mg per 1 000ml of breath. The man was taken into custody and officers arranged alternative transport for his passengers.
‘This arrest is a timely reminder to everyone who transports passengers and who is meant to be in possession of a professional driving permit that you are held to a higher standard in law,’ says Cape Town’s Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith.
‘Even if your last drink is the night before, the effects linger far longer, so do yourself and your passengers a favour and make better choices.’
During the same week, traffic officers recorded 58 082 offences, made 36 arrests (of which 28 were for driving under the influence and eight for reckless and negligent driving), impounded 148 vehicles and executed 1 923 warrants of arrest.
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‘As expected, we did see an increase in emergency calls as well this weekend, but comparatively, it is not as dire as some payday weekends we have experienced in the past,’ says Smith.
‘That said, assault cases doubled week on week, and we saw a 50% jump in noise complaints, so still a lot to be concerned about.’
Another notable arrest was that of a driver on the list of ‘high flyers’. He was arrested on Friday, 26 April at a vehicle checkpoint in the CBD. According to the City, the man had 63 outstanding warrants worth R65 500.
In total, metro police officers made 61 arrests and issued 3 319 fines, while law enforcement officers made 187 arrests and issued 4 307 notices.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1 891 incidents, a 24% increase compared to last week. Of these, 822 were medical complaints.
Furthermore, the centre recorded 78 fires, 187 assault cases (an increase from 95 last week), 48 domestic violence cases (an increase from 29), 68 road accidents (up from 55) and 272 noise complaints (up from 183).
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Also read:
SAPS arrests suspect linked to organised crime and confiscates contraband
Picture: JP Smith / Facebook