New Roadblock Protocols

[AndreZA]

A drunk passenger poses no threat, ITS THAT SIMPLE,... what will they do next, impose laws that make it obligitory for drivers to ensure their passengers carry ID BOOKS, are sober, have no tax violations, have paid all their Edgars debts, dont have any speeding tickets outstanding, dont intend to get drunk in public..........its just stupid, if one person is prosecuted, I will be very surprised.

 

Imagine having to get a drivers license to be a passenger.

[scotty]

 

Sadly, I and most others will probably just accept it as part of SA life and move on, actually there is not much else we can do, but believe me, it would not happen in say the USA, there would be a huge outcry and 1000's sueing the state for breach of the 4th ammendment.

 

I thought the USA cops were more rigorous than ours.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I thought the USA cops were more rigorous than ours.

 

Oh they are, but they dont harrass citizens for no reason, everything is done within the law. However, if you are caught for something, be assured you will be prosecuted and it will stick - unlike here, which in my opinion is the major problem.

[EigerSA]

Yeah correct, BUT the inverse is also true, lets take an extreme example, you are scooting down the road on your bike, a cop activates his red light and forces you to pull over and stop - That is siezure without a warrant and is illegal, it still remains the responsibility of the police to PROVE he had justification in stopping you on suspicion of criminal activity or witnessed criminal behaviour.

 

Remember traffic infractions are NOT CRIMES and were never intended to be crimes, the fact that we dont complain and run to court when stopped willy nilly in the street is NOT ANY INDICATION its legal - we just accept it and the law is blurred.

 

NOBODY can be deprived of life, liberty or property with out due process of law.

 

So if for example they want to prosecute passengers for been drunk in a car, they would have to prosecute them for been "drunk in public" (which is illegal but never policed) but then they need blood tests, and costs start mounting, is it worth it, No, are they going to start stopping every citizen staggering home from a shebeen or a party at his neighbours house for been drunk in public, I doubt it, so yes the law can be there, but is it worth policing is the question.?

 

I doubt it again, I can assure you any half assed advocate is not going to have any difficulty in getting you off a drunk passenger offense when and if your case comes to court.

 

The police have power of stop and search, that's a given, it's basically how the crime prevention units made their living. If the search resulted in nothing found, you sent on your way, no harm no foul. I f you end up in court, it's because something criminal was found during the stop and search, therefore justifying it automatically. Also keep in mind, a high crime rate is justification for stop and searches. The accused could try and argue that the stop and search was illegal, but just remember that we live in South Africa not the States, it works really different here, stop and search is LEGAL. I'm no lawyer, but in over 10 years of policing and court appearances that defense has never worked. All the cop does is say the driver was in his opinion acting in c suspicious manner and that's the end of it.

 

No one will be prosecuted for being drunk in the passenger seat at all, they looking to serve outstanding warrants and stuff like that. They'll just scan your ID quick and see what happens. If you give them crap about it, they might ask you to step out the vehicle and search the car as well. On the whole this is not a bad thing since loads of stuff from drugs to illegal firearms get discovered this way.

 

As for being drunk in public, it's seldom policed because who in their right mind wants to mess around with an alcohol reeking dimwit. It's only when the guy because a safety concern that I would've taken a steps. Being an effective policeman is also about knowing when to arrest and when to warn.

 

At the end of the day it's really simple, keep ID on you at all times, pay your fines on time (or even better don't get them in the first place), and when faced with a roadblock, remember that none of hose guys want to be thee any more than you do, so smile and be happy, it does make a difference.

[Gasping]

EigerSA I'm on your side with this. Grumpy, you have to break an egg to make an omelette.

 

I support this initiative FULLY. Go SAPS/Metro!!!!!! You can have 5 minutes of my time any day.

 

It would seem that we damn them for doing nothing and then damn them again when try something. Have a heart chaps. And by the way, the 4th amendment has got nothing to do with the RS of A. Neither has due process in the States got a jot of bearing on us.

 

We have an incredibly high crime rate. Whatever can be done to sort it out has my support.

[IanC]

I have been stopped in a roadblock on Friday and again on Monday on my way home. Friendly officers, checking license and my car. Not a hint of a bribe. I don't care if this happens because I don't have anything to hide. Seems that those complaining about the roadblocks is the ones getting fines and not paying them and stresses everytime they see a road block.

[chris_w_65]

SAPS pulling off cars I have respect for. Metro are a bunch of bribe taking retards.

[EigerSA]

SAPS pulling off cars I have respect for. Metro are a bunch of bribe taking retards.

 

You have personal experience of this or some evidence? What actions have you taken, you reported it to anyone? You open up a complaint at police station? If you haven't then you are part of the problem.

 

I get stopped at least once a week, and I have never ever been asked for money, where I was in the wrong I was issued with a fine, and where everything was fine I've been thanked and sent on my way. I've worked with metro members, including the dog units and found them to be mostly courteous and professional, they get the job done under trying circumstances, including having to deal with idiots like yourself.

 

Your post is so incredibly immature and offensive you should be banned from this site and driving in general.

[AndreZA]

what's the difference between Metro and the JHB Traffic Police?

[chris_w_65]

You have personal experience of this or some evidence? What actions have you taken, you reported it to anyone? You open up a complaint at police station? If you haven't then you are part of the problem.

 

I get stopped at least once a week, and I have never ever been asked for money, where I was in the wrong I was issued with a fine, and where everything was fine I've been thanked and sent on my way. I've worked with metro members, including the dog units and found them to be mostly courteous and professional, they get the job done under trying circumstances, including having to deal with idiots like yourself.

 

Your post is so incredibly immature and offensive you should be banned from this site and driving in general.

 

I had a Metro physically jump into the road and stop my moving motorcycle with his body in raining conditions. I asked him if he was stupid so they arrested me and 3 of the cops laid charges against me. They put the handcuffs on so tight that it took over 3 months to get the feeling back in my hands. Needless to say, they had no case against me so they didn't bother turning up at the trial. They are immature and retarded!!!! They abuse power

[chris_w_65]

You have personal experience of this or some evidence? What actions have you taken, you reported it to anyone? You open up a complaint at police station? If you haven't then you are part of the problem.

 

I get stopped at least once a week, and I have never ever been asked for money, where I was in the wrong I was issued with a fine, and where everything was fine I've been thanked and sent on my way. I've worked with metro members, including the dog units and found them to be mostly courteous and professional, they get the job done under trying circumstances, including having to deal with idiots like yourself.

 

Your post is so incredibly immature and offensive you should be banned from this site and driving in general.

 

And I don't know where you live but every single person I know has been asked for a bribe.

[chris_w_65]

You have personal experience of this or some evidence? What actions have you taken, you reported it to anyone? You open up a complaint at police station? If you haven't then you are part of the problem.

 

I get stopped at least once a week, and I have never ever been asked for money, where I was in the wrong I was issued with a fine, and where everything was fine I've been thanked and sent on my way. I've worked with metro members, including the dog units and found them to be mostly courteous and professional, they get the job done under trying circumstances, including having to deal with idiots like yourself.

 

Your post is so incredibly immature and offensive you should be banned from this site and driving in general.

 

And what right do you have to call me an idiot or immature? PRICK TJOP

Edited October 22, 2010 by chris_w_65

[EigerSA]

I had a Metro physically jump into the road and stop my moving motorcycle with his body in raining conditions. I asked him if he was stupid so they arrested me and 3 of the cops laid charges against me. They put the handcuffs on so tight that it took over 3 months to get the feeling back in my hands. Needless to say, they had no case against me so they didn't bother turning up at the trial. They are immature and retarded!!!! They abuse power

 

Of course we only have your side of the story. Most members don't stand on the side of the road stopping vehicles in heavy rain, which suggests it was probably light rain if at all. No member would in his right mind jump in front of car since they have a healthy will to live themselves so you probably only noticed at the last minute or were distracted or something, and if you reacted to him the way you are so arrogantly and insultingly and reacting here, then I'm not surprised you were handcuffed. And 3 months to get feeling back? Please, I've handcuffed many guys and even been handcuffed myself, 3 months is a slight exaggeration I think, similar perhaps to your story above?

 

How's the false arrest case going? I mean you are pressing charges against them since you were so clearly the injured party?

[EigerSA]

And what right do you have to call me an idiot or immature? PRICK TJOP

 

 

The same right you have in calling people "bribe taking retards".

[chris_w_65]

Of course we only have your side of the story. Most members don't stand on the side of the road stopping vehicles in heavy rain, which suggests it was probably light rain if at all. No member would in his right mind jump in front of car since they have a healthy will to live themselves so you probably only noticed at the last minute or were distracted or something, and if you reacted to him the way you are so arrogantly and insultingly and reacting here, then I'm not surprised you were handcuffed. And 3 months to get feeling back? Please, I've handcuffed many guys and even been handcuffed myself, 3 months is a slight exaggeration I think, similar perhaps to your story above?

 

How's the false arrest case going? I mean you are pressing charges against them since you were so clearly the injured party?

 

Catch a wake up, he was acting reclessly. He took 2 steps sideways and tackled my motorcycle from the front. I asked him if he was stupid and 6 cops jumped me. 3 of them layed charges against me but as I said, never bothered appearing in court.

They don't usually stop vehicles in the rain because they will get wet, in this case they were sheltering under a bridge.

 

Find me a lawyer that will take the case and accept payment on completion. The cops know these things cost money, that is why they get away with it.

 

Must I send you a medical report for the damage to the nerves in my wrists?

[chris_w_65]

The same right you have in calling people "bribe taking retards".

 

As I said, every single person I know has been asked for a bribe at some time or another