Traffic police spotted breaking the law

The Randfontein Traffic Department has come under the spotlight after a resident photographed one of their vehicles parking on the side walk at Village Square Mall.

The anonymous photo sent in to the herald by a Randfontein resident shows clearly that the vehicle’s signal lights and siren is off, indicating that the officer was not attending a crime scene or at the mall for official reasons.

“According to my knowledge of the South African traffic law it is unlawful for a traffic officer to use the side walk as a parking for unofficial reasons,” the upset resident said.

In the 10 April edition of the herald, a JMPD vehicle was named and shamed after the officer driving the marked vehicle, parked on a disabled parking bay in front of Randgate Spar. It looks like unlawful behaviour by officers are becoming a trend in Gauteng, which is a very bad example for the rest of the road users.

“It is more an issue of misusing their power to do exactly what they want, when they want. Who is going to reprimand a fellow officer, or issue them a ticket or warning? The rules are there to ensure the safety of all road users and should be obeyed by everyone.”

The herald has been trying to contact Chief Kenny Mamabola from Randfontein Traffic Department for comment about the incident, but no reply has been received as yet.

For the resident or traffic officers who do not know the rules of the road, here is a point by point run down of what is allowed and what is not.

According to the K53 herewith follow the rules of parking as seen on www.getyourleaners.co.za:

1) No person shall park a vehicle on a public road –

(a) in contravention of any road traffic sign;

(b) in any place referred to in “stopping of vehicles”;

(c) on the same side as a fire hydrant within an area bounded by the centre-line of the roadway and lines at right angles to such centre-line one and a half metres on either side of the hydrant, if such hydrant is clearly visible to and recognizable as such by drivers of moving vehicles, or if it is indicated by an appropriate road traffic sign;

(d) in any place where the vehicle would obscure any road traffic sign;

(e) in such manner as to encroach upon the side walk, if any; or

(f) in such manner as to obstruct any private or public vehicular entrance to such road.

2) These provisions shall not apply to any vehicle, other than a motor vehicle, while it is being used in carrying on the business of street vendor, pedlar or hawker, unless it exceeds such maximum weight, height, length or mass as may be prescribed in these regulations.

3) No person shall park a vehicle on any portion of the roadway (excluding the shoulders) of a public road outside an urban area or with any part of such vehicle within 1m of the edge of such roadway except in a parking place demarcated by an appropriate road traffic sign.

4) No person shall park a vehicle on the roadway of a public road within an urban area –

(a) within 9m of the side from which he or she approaches a pedestrian crossing demarcated by appropriate road traffic signs, unless such parking is permitted by appropriate road traffic signs;

(b) within 5m of any intersection unless such parking is permitted by a road traffic sign;

(c) upon or over the actuating mechanism of a traffic signal;

(d) (i) with the outside of any left-hand wheel thereof more than 450mm within the roadway; or

(ii) where the public road concerned is restricted to vehicles moving in one direction and the vehicle is parked on the side of the roadway, with the outside of any right hand wheel thereof more than 450 mm within the roadway, unless such parking is permitted by an appropriate road traffic sign;

or

(e) which is less than five and a half metres wide unless the public road concerned is restricted to vehicles moving in one direction and such parking is permitted by appropriate road traffic signs.

5) No person shall park a motor vehicle on a traffic island or in a pedestrian mall or pedestrian lane.

6) Whenever a vehicle has been parked in contravention of any provision of the Act or any by-law made under the Act, or in contravention of or in disregard of the directions of any road traffic sign or notice board as prescribed in these regulations, such vehicle may be removed or caused to be removed and impounded by a traffic officer, and unless the vehicle has been so parked in the course of a theft thereof, the owner shall bear the costs of such removal and impoundment.

Certain vehicles may be stopped and parked at any place where necessary

1) The driver of a fire-fighting vehicle, a rescue vehicle or an ambulance who drives such vehicle in the execution of his or her duties, a traffic officer who drives a vehicle in the execution of his or her duties, a person who drives a vehicle while he or she is engaged in civil protection as contemplated in section 3 of the Civil Protection Act, 1977 (Act No. 67 of 1977), or a person who drives a vehicle while it is used in connection with the construction or maintenance of a public road or the rendering of an essential public service, may stop or park the vehicle concerned at any place it may be necessary to do so.

2) While such vehicle is so stopped or parked, display the identification lamps as prescribed.

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