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Off we head into the holiday season, and the time of year where people seem to forget how to drive, road accidents go up, and so does the rates of drunk driving.

Please be responsible on the roads.

Drive safely, don’t drink and get behind the wheel, arrive alive – you know the deal.

This is especially important to remember because it looks like the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) is on the warpath and not just when it comes to speeding or driving under the influence.

The RTMC oversees road traffic law enforcement nationally, FYI.

Justice Project South Africa (JPSA) is up in arms about a recent statement made by the RTMC that states:

“The RTMC advises all motorists to check if they have any outstanding traffic fines before embarking on their festive journeys. Traffic officers are being deployed on all major routes and those found with outstanding traffic fines will not be allowed to proceed.”

“Traffic officers will also be deployed at various locations nationwide to deal with inconsiderate reckless and negligent driving, speeding, drunk driving, roadworthiness and overloading.”

JPSA says that there is no provision in any law that authorises traffic officers to stop people from going ahead with their journey if they have outstanding traffic fines.

“As much as I detest having to continually repeat myself, it is high time that traffic law enforcement officials started obeying the provisions of the law that apply to them,” said JPSA’s Chairperson, Howard Dembovsky.

“The RTMC is too fond of threatening motorists with things that are not provided for in law,” he continued.

Keep in mind that a traffic fine is not a warrant of arrest and should not be regarded as one.

An arrest warrant has to be issued by a judicial officer. Failure to pay a fine isn’t the same as, say, failure to appear in court when issued with a summons.

“Instead of inciting unlawful behaviour by traffic officers, the RTMC should be acting responsibly, by concentrating on initiatives that promote road safety and save lives, where reckless drivers are stopped before they crash into other road users,” Dembovsky said.

“While hidden speed cameras are super money-spinners for greedy municipalities and roadblocks can detect unroadworthy vehicles, together with those that have unpaid traffic fines, neither tackle the wanton reckless behaviour that plays itself out on our roads every day. Only professional visible and active policing can do that,” he concluded.

The RTMC says that it will be intensifying operations at taxi ranks, malls, and rest stops.

If you’re pulled over, remember your rights.

[source:jpsa]