DUPLICATED traffic fines, intimidating stop and go experiences and lack of service from the traffic department continue to anger Richards Bay motorists.
When Chris Brits renewed his car license a month ago, he says the document from the department clearly stated that no fees were outstanding for the family Volkswagen Microbus.
However, at a stop and go two weeks later in the central business district (CBD), his wife was told that she owed the department a mammoth R7 000.
‘The officer demanded that she pay right there and then,’ says Brits.
‘My wife asked for a summons, but the official said she did not know what a summons was.
‘Afraid of being arrested, she used her credit card to pay R1 000 using a mobile card machine onsite and was told to pay the rest off in monthly payments.
‘Surely this is utterly unacceptable, especially since the department documentation indicates that we owed them no money.’
Former traffic official Lukas van Reenen says he has received duplicated and erroneous fines.
‘Not only are duplicated fines a waste of the public’s money, but the department is not following the rules and regulations to ensure that fines are valid and arrests can be made lawfully.’
One speeding offence posted to van Reenen shows his vehicle driving past a lamp post.
‘A fine is worthless if there is an obstruction in the photograph – traffic officials should surely know this.
‘There are also no official stamps on the documentation and people are not receiving summons before they are threatened by officials at stop and go’s.
‘You cannot be arrested if you have not signed a summons and given notice of a court date to defend yourself.
‘These are our rights,’ said van Reenen.
Final notices for a stranger’s car has also been sent to Bay resident Daleen Engelbrecht up to twice a week.
‘I’ve been getting an influx of traffic fines that do not belong to me and when you try to resolve the matter with the department, they tell you that the supervisor is too busy.
‘How can we expect traffic offenders to be brought to justice with such a faulty system and unhelpful staff at the department?’
No response was received by the City of uMhlathuze Municipality at the time of going to print.
