Cape Town traffic cops have arrested taxi drivers for 1 596 outstanding fines totalling nearly R3 million, taking the overall arrest tally to 300 for the week, Mayco Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said yesterday.
Operations were conducted in Delft, Manenberg, Mfuleni and Kraaifontein, leading to 176 taxi drivers arrested between Thursday and Sunday, Smith said.
One of the taxi drivers, aged 50, had 167 outstanding warrants to the value of R230 900.
He was also found in possession of a firearm with an expired licence.
Smith said officers also impounded 134 vehicles, 242 cellphones and issued 27 468 fines for various offences.
General enforcement activities resulted in the arrest of 16 motorists for drunk driving, 13 for reckless and negligent driving, 84 for outstanding warrants and 10 on a range of other charges.
“The enormity of the operation cannot be underestimated, but it needs to be done.
“Our Traffic Department continues to be overrun by complaints about the behaviour of taxi drivers, and the high number of warrants executed just in the last few days, bears testament to the problem,” Smith said.
“The taxi industry needs to take responsibility for its actions. I urge errant drivers to pay their outstanding fines and to start showing greater regard for the rules of the road.”
He said in recent months, the Cape Town Traffic Service had increased operations in this area and would soon raise the size of the taxi enforcement unit, significantly improving its ability to respond to the ongoing contempt for traffic rules by the public transport sector.
African News Agency