Cape cops take aim at street racers

Cape Town - 100812 - The Ghost squad performed a blitz on Drag Racers in Montagu Gardens last night. 3 Racers were arrested and another man was arrested for Drunk Driving. One of the cars that managed to get away from the ghost squad was hunted down later in his Richwood home. Photo: Matthew Jordaan

Cape Town - 100812 - The Ghost squad performed a blitz on Drag Racers in Montagu Gardens last night. 3 Racers were arrested and another man was arrested for Drunk Driving. One of the cars that managed to get away from the ghost squad was hunted down later in his Richwood home. Photo: Matthew Jordaan

Published Jan 20, 2015

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Cape Town - To curb illegal street racing, the city is looking at imposing heavier fines, impounding vehicles and calling for longer jail sentences for those caught breaking the law.

The city said it was renewing its focus on fast-tracking regulations to tackle illegal racing.

Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said the city was not authorised to arrest motorists nor suspend illegally modified vehicles from the roads.

He asked that the new provincial traffic regulations, which are set to be announced by Transport MEC Donald Grant in April, give city officials more authority.

“Something has got to give, because motorists are clearly not heeding our calls to behave responsibly and, frankly, our existing penalties are clearly not a sufficient deterrent.”

Last week, a traffic officer was admitted to hospital after he was knocked off his motorcycle by a fleeing motorist trying to evade officers in Mitchells Plain.

The driver, aged 21, was arrested the following day after he went to report the incident at a local police station.

He was charged with attempted murder, reckless driving, negligent driving and failing to stop at a crash scene.

‘NO RESPECT FOR THE LAW’

Smith said 10 arrests had been made over the past two weekends, including that of a driver who disobeyed 14 traffic lights and another of a man who faked a seizure trying to escape arrest.

Eight drivers, one of whom had his pregnant girlfriend in the car, were arrested for reckless and negligent driving after they allegedly participated in an illegal street racing competition.

Smith said a case of endangering the life of a minor was also opened after the driver was found to be racing with a 14-year-old passenger in the car.

“These racers have absolutely no respect for law and order and it is ridiculous that we have to invest the kind of resources we do to babysit people who cannot appreciate that their actions could have, and in fact have in the past, had deadly consequences.”

On Sunday, Smith said he asked for a meeting with Grant to request that the new regulations permit city officers to impound vehicles involved in drag racing and also those of repeat offenders.

“We are also calling for more stringent impoundment fees for these vehicles and want to ensure prison time for offenders," he said.

"We will, furthermore, raise certain significant cases with the National Prosecuting Authority to address matters where repeat offenders have been let off too lightly.”

Cape Times

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