It was just last week when a green paper gazetted by the Western Cape Government laid down potential laws to curb the province’s drinking habits.

At the time, the list of proposals pertained mostly to that of drinking and driving and trading times – you can read all about that HERE.

But now it has come to light that there are also laws proposed to “place alcohol-related limits for pedestrians on certain classes of road between certain hours.”

The proposal continues, subtly working its argument:

Pedestrians under the influence of alcohol often exhibit risky behaviour, like crossing streets dangerously, and sustain more severe injuries.

Law enforcement has limited tools to remove pedestrians who are posing a danger to themselves and others by walking on or near roads while under the influence. In most in stances, officers cannot arrest the person for public drunkenness unless they are visibly intoxicated or commit other offences.

The proposal is that consideration be given to the introduction of legislation, for example as municipal by-laws, that make it illegal for pedestrians with a BAC or BrAC over 0.15 BAC to walk on or adjacent to certain higher order roads between designated hours where alcohol-related pedestrian crashes are prevalent or there is significant potential risk, unless pedestrians infrastructure has specifically been provided and the pedestrian is making use of that infrastructure.

Legislation would need to empower law enforcement officers to be able to,  at a minimum, obtain passive alcohol screening results from pedestrians suspected of being under the influence.

But what does that even mean? Maybe I am being ridiculous, but to me it reads as a way for the government to remove pesky homeless people within the framework of the law?

Tsk tsk, guys, we see you.

[source:businesstech]