Fine furore continues

THERE has been outrage from Zululand motorists over alleged coercion to pay outstanding fines at roadblocks throughout the City of uMhlathuze.

This after the Zululand Observer published on Monday the account of motorist Megan Erasmus who was made to pay R1 000 on the spot at a road block on the John Ross Parkway recently.

Erasmus said her lawful right to defend herself was violated when she was held up at a blockade and ‘forced’ to pay outstanding traffic fines.

Despite having queried fines prior to this incident, Erasmus was thumped with a statement amounting to R5 750.

On Wednesday, the Zululand Observer was inundated with letters from irate motorists opposing alleged traffic irregularities.

Concerned resident Izelle Fourie wrote in, outlining similar concerns of probable arrests.

‘I went to the court with all my documentation and I was told nothing can be done until I receive a summons. I was later contacted and informed that a summons will be served in two weeks time.

‘It has been a year since and I have not received a summons or hard copies of some of the fines which are from other regions.

‘ Instead I just received a SMS. My concern is what do I do when I get stopped at one of these ‘warrant of arrest’ road blocks?’

Dispute

Hired by the municipality as the sole service provider in traffic speed management, Traffic Management Technologies (TMT) is responsible for electronic tariff collection on behalf of uMhlathuze.

Criminal Defence Attorney Yolanda Gielink said she had been inundated with calls from the public complaining about the actions of TMT and the City’s traffic department.

‘In my view, the level at which the actions of the parties have escalated are tantamount to extortion and racketeering.

‘The conduct of the traffic officials and TMT employees are becoming increasingly dangerous as threats of arrest are meted without regard to the consequence thereof,’ said Gielink.

However, according to a source who wishes to remain anonymous, fines are not issued by TMT, but by the traffic officer employed by the City’s traffic department, who captures the infringer while on duty.

The matter is then adjudicated by a traffic official who confirms that the vehicle in the picture is the correct vehicle for that licence number before capturing it on the Gizmo system and posting it through to the offender.

‘There could be a possibility that the vehicle is the exact same as your own vehicle in the picture. However, you might not have been at that location on that date or time. In that respect, you will then be required to submit an affidavit to cancel this notice, as criminals do clone a stolen vehicle with the exact same licence number,’ said the source.