DURBAN North SAPS held a roadblock on Friday night which resulted in the arrest of 16 drunken drivers on the M4 Ruth First Highway near the Virginia off-ramp. The roadblock was a joint operation with the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI).
Capt Raymond Deokaran, spokesman for the Durban North SAPS, said police tried to spread their roadblocks across the M4.
“Previously we’ve targeted the M41, which is a main arterial route into uMhlanga. But we’ve also targeted the Broadway and Virginia off-ramps where there have been a number of accidents. On the night we had the usual comments about us focusing on soft targets which is not the case. There has been a spate of accidents on the M4 and too many motorists are still risking their own safety as well as that of other road users by driving their vehicles after they have consumed alcohol,” he said.
Her urged drivers to make use of taxis or Ubers to avoid getting behind the wheel drunk.
Read also: Don’t warn your ‘friends’ about roadblocks
Serious consequences-what happens if I’m arrested?
If you are stopped at a roadblock, and if it is determined that you have consumed more than the legal limit of alcohol that you may legally consume while driving, you will be arrested and charged with driving under the influence of liquor.
You will be held in custody until you are able to post bail and in certain instances bail may be denied. Depending on prior convictions against you, as well as the circumstances surrounding your arrest, you face a minimum fine of R2 000 or a two-year prison sentence, or both.
You may also lose your driver’s licence, or have it suspended. And, of course, you will have a criminal record.
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