Traffic Services Stops Taxi carrying Double the Permissible Load of Passengers

The City of Cape Town's Traffic Services last night stopped 50 taxis carrying more than the permissible load of passengers. "One of the taxis, a Toyota minibus which is registered to carry 14 passengers, was transporting 31," says Chief Inspector Merle Lourens, media spokesperson for Cape Town Traffic Services.

Lourens said that the emphasis of the Department's operations yesterday was the Athlone CBD where 77 traffic officers were deployed between 15:00 and 18:00 to monitor traffic offences.

Six hundred and ninety eight fines were issued to 135 unlicensed drivers and 73 illegal taxi operators, for 74 passenger overloads, and for various vehicle defects. Four mechanically defective cars were taken off the road and a motorist was arrested and charged for being in possession of a false driving licence.

"Officers focused on collision-causing violations and charged motorists for overtaking on the shoulder, turning in the face of oncoming traffic, following too closely, disregarding red traffic lights and directional arrows and failing to wear their safety belts", Lourens said. Traffic Service's speed section recorded 1220 offences along Duinefontein Road, Manenberg, Vanguard Drive near Turfhall Road and Racecourse Road. The highest speed recorded was 132 km/h.

Operation Reclaim officers, operating in Jan Smuts Drive, executed 72 warrants of arrest for outstanding fines of R51900.00. Five drivers were arrested and 33 were warned to appear in court. Four of the drivers arrested made immediate payments totaling R9800.00.

Last night, the warrants team continued their efforts in recouping monies owed to the City for outstanding traffic fines when they conducted house visits in Table View. Fifty-one warrants were served on seven people. Twenty eight were for outstanding fines on the BMT (Bus, Mini-bus, Taxi) lane.

---

Issued by:
Communication Department
City of Cape Town