‘Don’t make me take away your license!’ – Magistrate
Speedsters beware - there is no use crying in court once you have been convicted
MOTORISTS speeding on the N2 highway – especially those who use their vehicles for business purposes – will do well to heed the warning of Mtunzini District Court Magistrate, Steve de Lange.
Exceeding the 120km/h speed limit by more than 40km/h automatically results in the suspension of one’s driver’s licence for at least six months.
Magistrate de Lange has issued a stern warning to speedsters travelling on Zululand roads, and his message is simple.
‘If you are caught speeding and found guilty in my courtroom, I will have to take away your license,’ he said.
Every day, Magistrate De Lange applies the law when defendants are found guilty in his courtroom.
With increasing concern each week, he has noticed the rising number of motorists caught travelling in excess of the speed limit on the N2 and R102.
By law, he has to take away the driver’s license and issue a substantial fine, which for some could be a lot more than just an inconvenience – it could cost them their job.
Hard truth
According to Section 35 of the National Road Traffic Act, drivers could lose their licence if found guilty of driving recklessly.
Other stipulations for conviction include speeding in excess of 30km/h over the speed limit in an urban area or 40km/h over the limit outside an urban area or on a freeway.
‘In essence, if you are caught doing 161km/h in a 120km/h zone on the N2, you will be arrested and charged,’ said De Lange.
‘The same applies for 141km/h in a 100km/h zone and 121km/h in an 80km/h zone.’
He emphasised that different rules applied to taxis and trucks, who have set maximum speeds as per regulations of 100km/h and 80km/h respectively.
First time offenders will have their license suspended for a period of six months, five years for second offences and 10 years for third strikes.
A substantial cash fine, determined by the income bracket of the offender, also goes along with the suspension.
To make a speed ‘trap’ legal there must be a valid operator’s certificate, calibration certificate and certificate of accreditation, all of which the driver may ask for when being pulled over.
‘The solution is really simple. Drivers need to think twice before driving over the speed limit.
‘There is no use in crying in my courtroom once you have been found guilty. Rather don’t speed at all.’
