Executive mayor of Johannesburg Mpho Phalatse announced on 21 April that the city has reintroduced “smart roadblocks” in an effort to better enforce compliance and collect revenue, reported BusinessTech.
In the past nine weeks, Phalatse said the system allowed the city to collect over R14 million.
She said the smart roadblocks recognise number plates and then automatically identify motorists who have outstanding fines, who have stagnant fines, who have fines with incorrect addresses, or who are driving cloned vehicles.
The system provides the ability to do paperwork on-site, including the issuing of arrest warrants, while a clerk of the court is also present to issue a summons if needed.
Furthermore, it enables motorists to settle their fines next to the road using debit and credit cards, as well as cash. However, if no payment is available, a motorist can also be arrested.
Syntell, the organisation that designed the smart roadblock system, said it is capable of collecting R20,000-R50,000 of outstanding fines per day.
Going forward, motorists should expect more roadblocks not only in Johannesburg, but across the country, as part of a push by government to reduce road fatalities.
Transport minister Fikile Mbalula said operations will be heightened on Thursdays and over weekends as these are the periods when most accidents are reported.
Your rights when pulled over
According to Legal & Tax, South African motorists have certain rights when they are pulled over at a roadblock.
At roadblocks and roadside checks, motorists may do the following:
- Demand to see an officer’s certificate of appointment.
- Demand to see the written authorisation of a roadblock.
- Refuse to submit to a search at a roadside check, unless there are reasonable grounds for such a search.
However, in the same scenario, motorists may not to do the following:
- Refuse to provide a breath alcohol or blood sample.
- Offer or pay a bribe.
- Resist arrest.
Keyword: Smart roadblocks back in Joburg – Over R14 million collected