Miss Peters highlighted that officials have noted the tendency of motorists to drive without proper vehicle registration, and warned that the issue will immediately be addressed by law enforcement officers.
“We are perturbed to notice a new phenomenon and a very disturbing tendency of some motorists who drive without registration numbers. This is a deliberate ploy to avoid detection for traffic violations and to undermine our law enforcement efforts,” she said and warned motorists that officers had been instructed not to fine all perpetrators.
“The vehicle will be impounded, forcing the owner to make alternative transport arrangements. It is not that the vehicles are new. Even new cars have paper permits which are only valid for 21 days. It can’t happen and it must be stopped. These people must be inconvenienced,” she said.
Peters also had a go at speedsters, particularly those in the public eye and said 913 people were arrested for drunken driving and 502 were caught speeding. One of those caught speeding was Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo, who claimed he was rushing to prepare for his wedding on Good Friday. He was arrested in Johannesburg while driving at 173km/h.
Peters said celebrities should lead by example as thousands look up to them and sometimes emulated their actions.
“Why I singled out the Premier Soccer League (PSL) was because one of the senior officials once refused outright to get them [PSL officials] or soccer players to speak at events about road safety,” said Peters.
Local businessman and chairperson of the Nigel Secondhand Business Forum, Goolam Patel said he also addressed the issue regarding valid motor vehicle licensing during a meeting that was held in MacKenzieville on March 30.
“The practice of secondhand car dealers removing number plates and license disks from windscreens, are no longer allowed under the new terms of the act,” he said and added that number plates should remain on vehicles at all times and that random inspections will be carried out by inspectors without prior notification, to ensure that secondhand car dealers comply with the law.
