A resident and business owner from Krugersdorp wants the municipality to investigate what he believes is a faulty camera at a traffic light, resulting in traffic fines to be issued wrongfully.
Tiago de Canha (52), owner of Monument Liquor Warehouse on Voortrekker Road says that he received several fines of R1 000 each for allegedly ‘disobeying’ the traffic rules as set out in Section 58(1) of the National Road Traffic Amendment Act, Act 93 of 1996.
He provided the NEWS with photographic evidence to support his allegations.
De Canha claims that the camera at the traffic light on the corner of Shannon and Voortrekker Roads has captured him in his private vehicle as well as the drivers of his trucks when they turned into a road towards his business premises.
“When driving from Krugersdorp towards Roodepoort the green arrows of the traffic light on this corner give you right of way to turn right but once the vehicle slightly moves across the other lane the camera captures the vehicles.”
In one of the photographs one can see another vehicle coming from the opposite direction in the process of turning, which should indicate that the arrows were allowing the driver right of way to turn.
“Unfortunately the camera is positioned in such a manner that one can not see the arrows on the traffic light.”
When the NEWS tried photographing the arrows, they were not visible on the photograph despite the photographer seeing them with the naked eye.
De Canha says a friend of his also received a fine for the same so-called offence despite obeying the traffic signals.
“I want the community to be aware of the problems at this traffic light and ask that it be fixed.”
He says that he has asked the municipality to look into the problems that he and many others are experiencing.
The NEWS has sent a request for comment to Nkosana Zali, the municipal spokesperson, but has had no response yet.
Pease let us know if you have had a similar experience at this traffic light.
I’ve got the same fine, the road is a little rough on the turning lane so I always go a little in the other lane if possible. The photo on the fine clearly shows vehicles in the intersection that’s in the process of turning, and my car’s turning indicator is on in the photo. What should I do?