Drunk, reckless and negligent driving remain concerns for city law enforcement officials following a busy week that saw the arrest of 379 suspects and the issuing of 40 653 fines. These included 73 arrests for drunk driving and 10 for reckless and negligent driving.
Also read: What exactly are the laws around drunk driving in South Africa?
Cape Town Traffic officers made 52 arrests for drunk driving; LEAP officers made three; and Metro Police officers made 18 drunk driving arrests.
At the start of the long weekend, on Youth Day, Metro Police officers on patrol in Kirstenhof spotted an Opel sedan driving down the Main Road without headlights.
When they stopped the vehicle, they found an alcohol bottle inside the door panel and detected a strong smell of alcohol on the driver. The 38-year-old was arrested after a breathalyser confirmed that he was inebriated.
Under identical circumstances in Belhar, officers pulled over a vehicle without headlights activated on Symphony Way.
While speaking to the driver, they smelt alcohol, and a breathalyser confirmed their suspicions. The 33-year-old was arrested.
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‘We’re dealing with a lot due to the weather, and then you have those among us who insist on creating additional problems by behaving badly, said Mayco member JP Smith. ‘It’s utterly shocking to see how many drunk drivers continue to be arrested week after week.’
‘It’s hard enough operating a vehicle in good weather conditions when you’re sober, but doing so, while impaired, in the type of downpours we’ve seen recently, is both stupid and dangerous.’
‘Our enforcement agencies spend an inordinate amount of time policing the impacts of substance abuse, both alcohol and drugs – which means time away from other priorities.’ Overall, the Metro Police department made 82 arrests over the period and issued 2 840 fines for traffic and by-law transgressions.
Cape Town Traffic Services arrested 77 motorists, 52 for drunk driving, 10 for reckless and negligent driving and 15 others on various charges.
Officers also recorded 34 548 offences, impounded 250 public transport vehicles and executed 1 459 warrants of arrest.
In the past week, law enforcement officers made 220 arrests and issued 3 265 notices for various transgressions.
Among others, in Kraaifontein, LEAP officers assisted SAPS with several property searches on 16 and 17 June. Officers recovered 132 bankies of tik hidden in a pipe affixed to the gate of one house, and the owner was arrested. In another incident, a LEAP officer recovered a zipgun with one round of ammunition in a bathroom, resulting in the arrest of a suspect.
At 9:30am on Saturday, 17 June, officers on patrol in the Philippi area spotted a vehicle driving recklessly. They pulled over the driver and sought permission to search the vehicle, recovering a pistol underneath the driver’s seat.
The driver was taken to Philippi East SAPS for further investigation.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre logged 1 825 incidents over the weekend.
including 767 for medical assistance, 104 assault cases, 33 incidents of domestic violence and 54 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.
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Also read:
Drunk driving and motor vehicle accidents on the increase in Cape Town
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