Question:
I have heard that movable speed camera must manned and not left unattended, is that true? Apparently, it was implemented in Nelspruit and Malelane and after a while withdrawn due to the legal issues.
Such a system has now been implemented in Witbank, 22 cameras, and is creating havoc. I traced 2 fines on the “pay my fine” web page, but it do not have any court date displayed. Even if you go to the traffic department they give you a document with the court date indicated as “N/A” and my logic tell me that I have till the court date to pay admission of guilt. I have also not yet received any notification to date. On the one fine date, I was not even in Witbank, I stay in Middelburg Mpumalanga. I just feel that the implementation of such a system is not fair even if it help with law enforcement, but they should pay more attention to traffic sign violation, like stop streets and robots.
Answer:
- Although the use of unattended portable cameras was previously forbidden, this changed almost six years ago, in December 2012 when the TCSP guidelines were updated.
- Traffic fines issued in terms of Section 341 of the Criminal Procedure Act will never have a court date since they are fines which may be paid in order to avoid formal prosecution. Only of that notification is escalated to a summons in terms of Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Act will a court date become applicable.
- I am also of the view that speed cameras are practically useless in promoting the objectives of road safety. This does not mean that I am opposed to speed enforcement, in fact, if every person who exceeded the speed limit were to be stopped and have a fine issued to them at the time of the alleged offence, I would be one of the happiest people on the planet. Sadly however, speed trapping by camera is a marvellous revenue generator for municipalities who have zero interest in road safety and an insatiable appetite for money.
Best Regards,
Howard Dembovsky
Chairman – Justice Project South Africa (NPC)
Speeding, Safe Driving and Road Crashes – Some of the Reasons why we should NOT speed! https://t.co/LodHBCI9IM #ArriveAlive #Speeding @paycity pic.twitter.com/VOyQPFoaLq
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) September 5, 2018