Cops and Your Licence Plate

[fandacious]

 

if you want to get technical' date=' very few traffic offenses are criminal offenses.

 

you cant actually get a criminal record for not having a number plate, speeding, driving recklessly, etc

 

[/quote']

"Technically" they are ALL criminal offences!

 

Prosecution is in terms of the Criminal Procedures Act, typically Sects 56

or 341.

 

You get a criminal record for reckless driving, speeding above a certain

percentage of the speed limit, drunken driving, ...

 

I don't know how the criminal record bit works, as that's outside my

scope...

 

can you actually get a criminal record for speeding?

 

[jmaccelari]

 

 

can you actually get a criminal record for speeding?

Again, IANAL! In the case of excessive speeding where there

is NAG (no admission of guilt) and a sentence is imposed

by the court, I believe the answer is "yes"...

 

 

[Guest coenie]

 

I think some of those small karoo towns make most their annual traffic fine budget on the argus weekeend just cause of number plates!? They should go look for some real criminals!

It's amazing how almost every self-righteous tosser that breaks thelaw comes up with that one.I got it last Thursday night (after Crofty Mclaughlin got hit off his bike bya drunk driver on Wednesday). The woman was 5 times over the limit.Should I have gone after "real" criminals?I got it three times this morning while issuing Section 56s for drivingin the yellow line (the one guy nearly took out a cyclist AND a pedestrian!).With cyclists getting killed while riding in the yellow lane' date=' should Ihave been going after "real" criminals?The job of a traffic officer is to enforce the law without prejudice.So that means nailing you for your plates, for riding in the shoulder ordrunken driving.The problem is that we are used to lax enforcement and then get upsetwhen there is some enforcement and we happen to be the "victim"...Hypocrisy, anyone?[/quote']

 

 

 

Funny that the incidents you mentioned here saved lives, or prevented someone from getting injured or killed...now please tell me...How does NOT displaying a numberplate endanger anyones live? Is it not better to spend that time to concentrate on the yellowline drivers rather than the "numberplate not visible" :????coenie2009-03-04 06:43:30

[jmaccelari]

 

Funny that the incidents you mentioned here saved lives' date=' or prevented someone from getting injured or killed...now please tell me...How does NOT displaying a numberplate endanger anyones live? Is it not better to spend that time to concentrate on the yellowline drivers rather than the "numberplate not visible" :????[/quote']

The examples were to illustrate the nonsense about the

"I'm not a criminal" mentality.

 

To answer you: a missing number plate is often an indication of

a person wishing to speed, skip traffic lights, etc - actions that DO kill.

It also provides an indication of the vehicle's identity and thus (through

investigation) its ownership and roadworthyness.

 

So in itself it is not a "big" thing, but can lead to "big" things.

 

And finally - the bottom line is "it is the law". You can obey it or

face the consequences. It's your choice.

 

The problem in SA is - and again I state - the laxidaisical and inconsistent

enforcement where revenue generation is a priority and the will to

enforce the law uniformly and consistently does not exist.

 

Oh, for a perfect world...

 

[TNT1]

jmac, your words will mostly fall on deaf ears. People will not realise that the issues are black and white. You can be part of the problem, that is a criminal (and don't try and sugar coat anything, breaking the smallest law, makes you a criminal) or you can be a part of the solution. Simple.

[jmaccelari]

 

jmac' date=' your words will mostly fall on deaf ears. People will not realise that the issues are black and white. You can be part of the problem, that is a criminal (and don't try and sugar coat anything, breaking the smallest law, makes you a criminal) or you can be a part of the solution. Simple.

[/quote']

Yep - agreed.

 

However, I hope that somewhere, sometime my efforts might possibly

have a positive result...

 

 

[droo]

jmac' date=' your words will mostly fall on deaf ears. People will not realise that the issues are black and white. You can be part of the problem, that is a criminal (and don't try and sugar coat anything, breaking the smallest law, makes you a criminal) or you can be a part of the solution. Simple.

 

[/quote']

 

And to think that there are folk on the hub who think you are a twerp. Sense spoken when it's needed...

[CycleJunkie]

 

jmac' date=' your words will mostly fall on deaf ears. People will not realise that the issues are black and white. You can be part of the problem, that is a criminal (and don't try and sugar coat anything, breaking the smallest law, makes you a criminal) or you can be a part of the solution. Simple.

[/quote']

Yep - agreed.

 

However, I hope that somewhere, sometime my efforts might possibly

have a positive result...

 

 

Yeah, that is the "starfish" principle. Keep it up.

 

I heard this "I have stopped speeding, cos I can't afford the fines." Well at least he stopped speeding, so we can be safer on the road. Well done to the "income generators" 

 

[Marius]

It'll cost you R55 to have a extra number plate made, just drill a hole in both sides and use a old tube to tie it to your Bike frame on that back.

[GreyOwl3.0]

Please Porky...you think I come on here to rain on a parade?

Was it not too long ago that Bicycling contained a letter of complaint regarding a police road block en route to a cycle race? I'm sure Mr Badenhorst will back this up...the police were stopping people with rear mounted carriers and fining for obscured plates and brake lights.

 

Had this experience before myself years ago...and when reading the rules its clear that nothing can obscure your brake lights in any way...even more so than your number plate (which by law does not require a number plate light?!)

 

However...I dont actually care if any of you get a fine. I just thought I'd give a friendly warning.

And I personally would drive back to Beaufort West to pay a fine than 10c in the pocket of a Traffic official. I detest them at the best of times!!

[Jackes]

 

However...I dont actually care if any of you get a fine. I just thought I'd give a friendly warning.

 

Hey GO, can I get a pool manual if I back you up here ?  

Honestly,  for the warning here and actually I will back it up, they will fine you for the above mentioned.

[GreyOwl3.0]

One pool manual on its way dude!

Honestly, its actually quite logical when you consider it...you really do need to see brake lights...and some people dont see them when they are not obscured!

 

Dont get me wrong...I'm no 'Dudley do right'...in fact on my way home now between Meyerton and Glenvista I was several times well over 190kph.

I roll through stop streets every day...

But my number plate is always on...and I always pay my fines coz I know I am wrong. (very wrong...and I've tried to help Sbu out and get the road speed limit changed...but to no avail)

[Moab]

 

I roll through stop streets every day...

 

 

Whats wrong with rolling through?

[GreyOwl3.0]

Nothing in my opinion DiCPD!

Its the fuzz who seem to mind!!

[jmaccelari]

 

And I personally would drive back to Beaufort West to pay a fine than 10c in the pocket of a Traffic official. I detest them at the best of times!!

Surely then, the best option is not to get the fine in the

first place?

 

[droo]

IMO its good to see that the traffic dept are doing something about moving violations instead of the usual coffee, donuts and a camera under a shady tree.

 

 

 

It's not quite where I'd like it to be, which would see people who don't indicate, run lights, hog the right lane, jump queues and generally behave like morons (yes traffic cops, that includes you guys...) pulled over and shot - but it's certainly a step in the right direction