City enforcement agencies clock 60 drunk drivers
12 August 2024
The number of drunk driving arrests increased significantly week-on-week, but as many long weekend revelers discovered, there is no escaping the long arm of the law.
The City's enforcement agencies made 399 arrests in the past week. They also issued 41 228 fines for various traffic and by-law transgressions.
Drunk driving arrests saw a marked increase week-on-week, with 60 arrests between Traffic, Metro Police and Law Enforcement.
'We're not halfway through the month and our drunk driving arrests is showing a disturbing increase. These figures are usually indicative of the end of the month or a pay day weekend, when drivers are less cautious than they should be. The long weekend likely played a role, although it really is poor form, considering the conditions on the roads this past weekend.
'Traffic is doing more proactive and targeted operations. Let this be a warning to people who routinely break the law. We are working smarter and integrating technology into our traffic operations, like the Eye in the Sky, to ensure our roads are safer for all users. The City has free programmes at clinics for those who want to kick the habit of alcohol abuse. Drunk driving destroys lives, apart from the astronomical economic losses in terms of injuries and fatalities. If you cannot make the responsible choice to drive sober, then choose to get help,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
TRAFFIC SERVICE
Traffic officers arrested 55 people, of which 40 were for driving under the influence, five for reckless driving and 10 for various other transgressions.
Officers also recorded 12 814 speeding offences, issued 22 391 fines for various traffic violations, executed 2 041 warrants and impounded 163 public transport vehicles.
Law Enforcement made 262 arrests including one by officers who were on patrol and found a 24-year-old man in a freshly dug trench along the Stellenbosch Arterial road, which is a known hot spot for cable theft. The suspect was taken to Belhar police station along with two 10 metre long copper cables, two spades and a hacksaw, which were also in the trench.
Metro Police officers arrested 82 suspects and issued 2 477 traffic and by-law fines.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1 343 incidents this weekend, with most indicators showing a decrease. They logged 72 cases of assault, 54 domestic violence calls and 47 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.
ISR, commonly referred to as Eye in the Sky, is the information, surveillance and reconnaissance technology and is a two-seater fixed wing aircraft fitted with state-of-the-art cameras, which is deployed to provide officers with situational awareness and aerial imagery when conducting various enforcement operations. The aircraft that can fly higher than a drone is also fitted with infrared cameras, allowing it to register body heat in cold water, the heat resonating from a recently fired firearm or even the wheels of a speeding vehicle.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
