News24.com | WATCH | No licence, no numberplate… no car: Cape Town impounding vehicles under new Traffic By-law

Cape Town drivers need to get their vehicles in check, and fast, as the City of Cape Town’s traffic officials have begun impounding vehicles under the amended traffic by-law. While motorists with newer vehicles in standard form might breathe a sigh of relief, owners of older and modified cars are likely to be targeted. However, anyone with a missing number plate or whose number plates are not securely fixed in place will not only be fined but their vehicles will also be impounded.

The City’s Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith says unroadworthy vehicles, cars with defective lights, or any vehicles that aren’t up to original SABS specifications and have been illegally modified, now get impounded, not just fined. READ | Nipping speedsters in the bud: Cape Town’s new smart speed signs forcing better driving behaviour What else can get your car impounded? “Unlicensed vehicles, unlicensed drivers, their vehicles will be impounded. For illegal street racers, or even just spectators at these events, it’s covered under the traffic by-law.

As is wheel spinning or drifting,” says Smith. Other instances include failure to stop when instructed to do so by an officer. These are now offences which the City’s traffic by-law permits for the vehicle to be impounded.

Reckless and negligent driving or driving under the influence (DUI) means you will be arrested, and your vehicle will be impounded until court proceedings are complete. Only then will you be able to pay an impoundment fee to retrieve your vehicle. “Sometimes these court cases can take several years,” warns Smith.

ALSO READ | Letter: My driving licence card expired a few years ago, do I have to start from scratch? So why the harsh clampdown? The City says that the traffic by-law of 2021 was passed and promulgated last year to end the carnage on Cape Town’s roads. The penalties have now been passed and published in the tariff schedules for the 2023 financial year that began in July. “With the harsh action intended to bring about lasting reform, the amended traffic by-law is the long-awaited answer to the majority of lawful motorists who long to see an improvement in road safety,” says Smith.

The City of Cape Town has since come under fire from local motorists who say the criminal justice system seems ineffective in dealing with serious and violent offences like murder and rape. Smith says the City is trying to make sure that the legislation is effective in changing driving behaviour and improving road safety but cannot amend the legislation that deals with serious violent crime that affects the lives of many, as this would need to be done by the national government. “This is just one way in which the City is using its local government powers effectively to address an issue where solutions are not forthcoming by the national government.

“More effective legislation like this could save many lives, and many of the tragedies we have seen on our roads recently may have been avoided if offenders had faced the consequences of their actions in this manner earlier. ” And for those who think only private vehicle owners will be targeted because officials would be unwilling and too intimidated to impound public transport vehicles, especially the minibus taxis, Smith says the City has been impounding between 900 and 1 200 taxis a month for more than a year. Smith also said: “Of course, there are many angry motorists who are now angered by the fact they can no longer avoid accountability.

But this will improve their behaviour on the roads, reduce reckless driving and improve road safety. “Remember, this is only one small part of the Traffic By-law. Smooth tyres, defective lights, unroadworthy vehicles- many of these could previously only be enforced by a Traffic Officer.

But as a By-law, it now can be enforced by any Traffic Officer, Metro Police Officer or Law Enforcement Officer. ” What happens when your vehicle is impounded – what are the fees? While we are still unaware what the actual fees are, the Western Cape: Provincial Gazette Extraordinary, states: The City may charge a daily or monthly tariff for storage of impounded vehicles. According to the Provincial Gazette, under the ” Release of impounded vehicles “, drivers may only get their cars back in the following circumstances: (1) Subject to subsections (5) and (6), vehicles impounded by the City: (a) for reckless or negligent driving or illegal street racing in terms of Section 62 (1)(a) may only be released to the vehicle’s owner or driver, upon the conclusion of the matter’s prosecution; (b) for being unlicensed or if the licence disc has expired for more than 90 days in terms of section 62(1)(b), may only be released to the vehicle’s owner or driver upon presentation of a valid licence disc; (c) for being unregistered in terms of subsection 62(1)(c), may only be released to the vehicle’s owner or driver upon proof of registration and a valid licence disc being presented; (d) for not displaying licence plates in terms of section 62(1)(d), may only be released to the vehicle’s owner or driver upon presentation of valid licence plates and having them affixed to the vehicle; or (e) for not being roadworthy in terms of section 62(1)(e), may only be released to the vehicle’s owner or driver upon presentation of a roadworthy certificate.

This is a developing story. News24 Motoring will update readers with more information in the coming weeks. .