NEWS RELEASE                                                                                                    28 July 2004

OPERATION RECLAIM SPREADS ITS NET AS MORE TRAFFIC OFFENDERS ARE CAUGHT

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As Operation Reclaim gathers momentum, another 46 sites in the Cape Metropolitan Area, stretching from Simon’s Town to Atlantis and from Sea Point to the Strand, are to be equipped with special cameras that record the number plates and offences of drivers. 

In the six weeks since it was launched, the operation has been a resounding success.

However, the City’s Executive Member for Safety and Security, Councillor David Erleigh, gave the assurance that the intention was not to victimize motorists, but to persuade them to obey the law.

  He stressed that the campaign was being applied equally in all areas and without regard to the category of vehicle.

“Operation Reclaim is being applied without fear or favour,” he said. “Every citizen will be dealt with in exactly the same manner.”

Councillor Erleigh said the aim was to encourage motorists to settle their fines. “This is a caring city and the campaign is being applied in a humane way that encourages drivers to obey the law,” he said.

So far warrants of arrest for outstanding fines have been issued to 587 motorists of whom 85 were stopped, given a warning and then released and 502 were apprehended and afforded the option to pay their fines or to appear in court.

Operation Reclaim is part of the City of Cape Town’s Safer Cities Programme, which is designed to make the streets safer for all who use them.

High-tech Star Ranger camera systems are supplied by Labat and are linked to a city-wide database that records all traffic offences.

Up to 24 July 2004, more than 42 000 vehicles had been scanned and summonses issued with a value of R1 243 740.

The worst that can happen is that a person who is arrested for outstanding fines is taken to the nearest police station and given a court appearance date before being released. Those who fail to appear in court will be in contempt and an additional fine will be imposed. At that stage, the matter passes into the hands of the Justice Department and is out of the City’s jurisdiction.

OPERATION RECLAIM SPREADS ITS NET AS MORE TRAFFIC OFFENDERS ARE CAUGHT

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Councillor Erleigh said that R11,5 million in fines had been collected in the six weeks of the Operation Reclaim campaign, compared with the previous average of R4 million a month.

“The City of Cape Town would like to thank those motorists who have co-operated with the campaign,” he said.

He reiterated that fines should be paid at the nearest traffic department, and not at a Town Hall.

Since the launch of the operation, 1770 emails have been received, 4304 telephone calls have been logged and 497 faxes have been received. All are receiving attention.

Councillor Erleigh said a number of enquiries had been received from car rental companies. “I must make it clear that the registered owner of the vehicle is responsible,” he said. “A number of rental companies have already come forward, and I would like to encourage other fleet owners to do the same.”  

Issued by                    Rosemary Hare Public Relations cc

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                                   MILL STREET

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On behalf of               The City of Cape Town

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                                  CAPE TOWN

                                  8000

For further information, please contact Rebecca Atherstone at Rosemary Hare Public Relations on (021) 465-1166 or 072 242 2685.

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