Heidelberg Officers Going Against The Law By Driving Cars With Expired Licence Discs. A line of about 30 state-owned cars at the Heidelberg in Gauteng police station are going against the legislation each day.
A line of about 30 state-owned cars at the Heidelberg in Gauteng police station are going against the legislation each day. The cars are driving with expired licence discs and this gets officers in danger of getting traffic fines. Within the 30 cars, 11 are for detectives, three are for support services and 16 are marked cars that work on general policing.
Simon Zwane, the Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson, says according to the road law, a police car should have a good licence disc to be on the road. ‘The police are not exempt from paying vehicle licences. It is an offence to drive an unlicensed [police vehicle] on a public road and the person driving the car will receive a fine. Only the army and diplomatic cars are exempt,” says the Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson. An official allegedly told News24 that the management in Gauteng and Heidelberg station knew about the issue.
The official had taken the issue up to the provincial office. The police official says they were coerced into driving the cars even though they laid their complaints. The police officer says what will happen to them if they are in an accident while driving a police vehicle without the right licence disc, hence putting their lives in danger. The official says they are concerned about the Gauteng management not replying.
by Alexandra Ramaite
