Question:
When can a car been towed away. is there a law that give me permission to tow away a vehicle when there are outstanding parking fines.
Answer:
If it is standing on a public road the traffic department must tow it away. Not because of the traffic fines but due to the fact that the vehicle is abandoned.
Reg 320 applies.
Vehicle left or abandoned on public road
Reg 320. (1) Any vehicle standing on a public road in a position or in circumstances which in the opinion of a traffic officer, is likely to cause danger or an obstruction to other traffic on such road, may be removed forthwith to a Government facility by any such traffic officer or person or authority instructed by such officer to remove such vehicle and in the case where such a vehicle was carrying persons which is left stranded at the scene when the vehicle is removed to a safer place, the traffic officer concerned may arrange and contract with any other person to provide the necessary transport to such persons: Provided that such traffic officer or person or authority shall, in removing such vehicle, use such device or devices as may be necessary, having regard to the public safety.
(1A) The owner of a vehicle referred to in subregulation (1) shall be liable for all expenses incurred in the removal and storage of such vehicle and the arrangement and contracting of another vehicle to transport stranded persons.
(2) Any vehicle—
(a) parked in a place where—
(i) the stopping of a vehicle is prohibited in terms of regulation 304; or
(ii) a vehicle of a class to which such vehicle belongs may not be parked;
(b) left for a continuous period of more than—
(i) 24 hours in the same place on a public road outside an urban area;
(ii) seven days in the same place on a public road within an urban area; or
(iii) seven days on the site of any testing station; or
(iv) 21 days on the premises of any traffic authority.
(c) found on a public road and to which—
(i) no licence number is affixed or, in the opinion of a traffic officer, a false licence number is affixed; or
(ii) no other number or anything else is affixed which may, in the opinion of a traffic officer, serve to identify the owner,
shall be deemed to have been abandoned by the owner and such vehicle may be removed by or on behalf of the authority having jurisdiction over the place or road concerned and such authority shall take all reasonable steps to trace the owner, and the owner shall, except in the case of a stolen vehicle, be liable to such authority for the expenses incurred—
(aa) in the removal of such vehicle;
(bb) in keeping the vehicle in custody for a period not exceeding four months; and
(cc) in connection with the endeavour to trace him or her,
and such authority may, subject to the provisions of subregulation (3), retain possession of such vehicle until such expenses have been paid.
(3) If—
(a) such owner is traced by the authority referred to in subregulation (2) which owner fails to recover the vehicle concerned and pay the expenses referred to in that subregulation within 14 days after being requested to do so; or
(b) after a lapse of one month from the date of removal contemplated in subregulation (2), the owner cannot be traced,
such vehicle or anything contained therein may be sold in the manner prescribed by any law governing the sale of movable property by such authority and, whenever possible, the authority which registered such vehicle shall be advised of such sale.
(4) The proceeds of any sale referred to in subregulation (3) shall be applied firstly to the costs of the removal, custody and sale of the vehicle concerned and all the endeavours made to trace the owner of such vehicle, and any balance shall be paid to the owner thereof upon his or her establishing his or her claim thereto: Provided that if no claim can be established within one year from the date of such sale, such balance shall be forfeited to the authority concerned.
(5) If an authority referred to in subregulation (2) is unable to sell any vehicle as contemplated in subregulation (3), it may dispose of that vehicle in any manner it deems fit, and any moneys received as a result of such disposal shall be forfeited to such authority.
(6) An authority referred to in subregulation (2) may delegate, either generally or specifically, any power conferred upon it in terms of that subregulation to any person in its employment.
(7) The reasonable exercise by any person or authority of the powers conferred by this regulation shall not render such person or authority subject to any liability in respect of the loss or theft of or damage to any vehicle or part thereof or of anything therein or thereon.
(8) Subject to the provisions of any other law, no person shall leave a vehicle in the same place on a public road for a continuous period of more than seven days.
Provided that any motor vehicle which has been impounded by a traffic authority and the owner or title holder having been traced as contemplated in subregulation 2 fails to collect the motor vehicle within 12 months, such vehicle may be sold to defray any costs incurred by the relevant authority.
Private companies are not allowed to issue section 341 notices. If the authority issues it, they would be able to tow away a vehicle if it is causing a danger or blocking a road, standing on a loading zone, etc.
Regards
Alta Swanepoel and Associates