I’m sure traffic officers in this country have heard just about every excuse under the sun.

We’re also a country that loves to give and take bribes, with the standard ‘get out of a traffic fine’ bribe coming in at around the R205 mark.

Sometimes, though, there’s no getting out of a speeding fine or arrest, no matter what excuse you try and cook up.

Here’s the Citizen:

A Chinese national caught by police allegedly driving 204km/h in a 120km/h zone, tried to avoid getting arrested by claiming he was rushing a friend who had symptoms of Covid-19 to hospital…

The 47-year-old driver, from Mpumalanga, was arrested for reckless and negligent driving, said EMPD spokesperson Kobeli Mokheseng.

“The Chinese national from Mpumalanga, who was with a male passenger, alleged that he was taking his friend to the nearest hospital, after he noticed symptoms of the Covid-19/coronavirus. The driver was taken to Bedfordview police station and the passenger, who was cornered and interviewed by officers on site, denied being infected,” said Mokheseng.

At least get your stories straight, guys.

That arrest was one of a string of speeding arrests by EMPD officers this weekend, and lame excuses weren’t in short supply.

One driver, caught hitting 168 km/h in a 120km/h zone, said he was hurrying to buy his nine-year-old son a birthday cake.

A 23-year-old driver, recorded going at 174km/h in a 120km/h zone, said she was late for a dentist’s appointment.

All three drivers mentioned above have been charged with reckless and negligent driving, and will have to appear in court.

Speed kills, people – drive safely on our roads.

[source:citizen]