Don’t listen to unauthorised car guards
JOBURG – Car guards are not the authority on public roads.
JMPD has warned that motorists need to exercise their own discretion when parking at public places.
Throughout the city of Johannesburg, car guards can be seen directing motorists into parking spaces. For some, the assistance they offer is a blessing but for others, it may be a nuisance. Car guards are often found monopolising the parking during public events. Often they demand R20 – R50 as a fee before you are even able to park.
Justice Project South Africa, says that “it is necessary to again warn motorists that they should avoid taking instructions from car guards”.
“Car guards [and the like] have absolutely no authority in terms of South African traffic law to instruct motorists to do anything, least of all park their vehicles,” said Howard Dembovsky national chairman of Justice Project South Africa.
JMPD Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said, “It is the responsibility of the driver to legally park.”
Motorists can be given a multitude of fines when not adhering to the rules of the road. For instance, according to Schedule 3 of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) regulations, “Sect58(1) Failed to comply with the directions conveyed by a road traffic sign by parking where a no-parking sign was displayed.”
This is but one description of the many fines that a motorist can incur when parking illegally irrespective of what a car guard has said.
Dembovsky further explained that motorists, therefore, have the direct obligation to abide by the provisions of the legislation and should never, ever allow themselves to be conned by ‘official-looking’ car guards.
Whether or not it is accompanied by a properly posted road traffic sign, a yellow painted edge line means ‘no parking’ and a red painted edge line means ‘no stopping’. Parking on any sidewalk is also prohibited.
Supt Minnaar added, “It is the responsibility of the driver to park legally so that it is not a danger to other motorists and to ensure that the car does not contravene any parking regulation.”
