SA's most unroadworthy car

[mancombseepgood]

http://www.dispatch.co.za/2007/01/06/Easterncape/aalead.html

 

[Wisemansa]

No bonnet. No petrol tank – instead, there was a 20-litre container filled with petrol and placed on the passenger seat with a pipe going straight to the engine.

No accelerator – instead, a wire going straight into the engine.

No indicators, lights or head-lamps. No key – instead, a piece of electric wire.

No electrically operated parts in working order.

ROFL !!!

 

[Gnome]

A Cape Town minibus taxi driver was clocked at 166km/h in a 100km/h zone near Dutywa on December 30. He paid a R1500 admission of guilt fine, but authorities are applying for the vehicle to be forfeited.

WTF!!! I got a R500 ticket for driving 121km/h in a 100km/h zone (on the N1, honestly just a money making scheme, there is no reason for the 100km/h zone in fact I didn't spot the difference between the 120 and 100 zone until I got my ticket), but this joker gets a R1500 fine for 66km/h above the legal speed limit. Maybe I should call them up and "admit to my guilt" and see if they can lower my fine as well!

This whole speed kills trash is starting to annoy me, why aren't they publishing statistics that prove that road worthy cars that speed are actually causing the accidents(IE the only single factor is the actual speeding which caused the accident, not drunk driving, not skipping a red light, ect.)? It's probably because in reality it's unroadworthy (read TAXI) and drunk drivers that speed who cause the accidents (and then they blame it on speed because that is what is convenient and it's a bank roll for them to slap extra tax on us)

 

[mancombseepgood]

Maybe

WTF!!! I got a R500 ticket for driving 121km/h in a 100km/h zone (on the N1, honestly just a money making scheme, there is no reason for the 100km/h zone in fact I didn't spot the difference between the 120 and 100 zone until I got my ticket), but this joker gets a R1500 fine for 66km/h above the legal speed limit. Maybe I should call them up and "admit to my guilt" and see if they can lower my fine as well!

This whole speed kills trash is starting to annoy me, why aren't they publishing statistics that prove that road worthy cars that speed are actually causing the accidents(IE the only single factor is the actual speeding which caused the accident, not drunk driving, not skipping a red light, ect.)? It's probably because in reality it's unroadworthy (read TAXI) and drunk drivers that speed who cause the accidents (and then they blame it on speed because that is what is convenient and it's a bank roll for them to slap extra tax on us)

Maybe cos speeding taxis can't stop in time?

 

[ToxicBunny]

Gnome : The "admission of guilt" is the fine....

But you should come drive in Durban, its fun. They'll change speed limits without telling anyone and you only find out once you've got the fines in the post a month or two later.

Like for instance, an offramp from the N3 to the M13 was changed from 80 to 60km/h. There is a 3 lane road that merges with the M19 which a few years ago had its limit changed from 70 to 60 (and if you drive at 60 on the road, you're the slowest thing there).... the list just goes on and on... and yeah we all get many many fines, then change habits to take into acount the new speed limits.

 

[Syndyre]

But you should come drive in Durban, its fun. They'll change speed limits without telling anyone and you only find out once you've got the fines in the post a month or two later.

There's no change in signage?

 

[hj2k_x]

I have found that ignoring the fines in the post works quite well. Received three in 2005 for doing like 90 in a ridiculous and poorly marked chunk of three-lane FREEWAY that is apparently a 60 zone. Haven't heard anything since.

Wait till they serve you with a summons before you do anything. And this has to be handed to you personally by a Sheriff of the Court, not just sent in the mail or left with someone else to later give to you. This is all worth bearing in mind before you cough up.

 

[kilo39]

I have found that ignoring the fines in the post works quite well. Received three in 2005 for doing like 90 in a ridiculous and poorly marked chunk of three-lane FREEWAY that is apparently a 60 zone. Haven't heard anything since.

Wait till they serve you with a summons before you do anything. And this has to be handed to you personally by a Sheriff of the Court, not just sent in the mail or left with someone else to later give to you. This is all worth bearing in mind before you cough up.

Ja but it is also worth keeping in mind that if you are stopped at a roadblock and you have outstanding warrents they can arrest you "for evading the law."

Not worth it IMO.

... and FFS pay your fines: they are yours after all.

... and the law may be dumb but (we) can be equally as dumb for getting caught in the first place.

 

[hj2k_x]

Ja but it is also worth keeping in mind that if you are stopped at a roadblock and you have outstanding warrents they can arrest you "for evading the law."

Not worth it IMO.

Outstanding warrants of Arrest perhaps but not outstanding traffic fines.

 

[kilo39]

Outstanding warrants of Arrest perhaps but not outstanding traffic fines.

Undelivered summonses eventually result in warrents. AFAIK.

 

[hj2k_x]

Undelivered summonses eventually result in warrents. AFAIK.

This i have not heard. Surely if they are undelivered it is not the fault of the person upon whom it is served? IMO the onus lies with the police to actually SERVE the summons on the guilty party.

 

[kilo39]

This i have not heard. Surely if they are undelivered it is not the fault of the person upon whom it is served? IMO the onus lies with the police to actually SERVE the summons on the guilty party.

Yes but after months of trying to deliver a summons they will eventually issue a warrent of arrest. Non-delivery of a summons still results in contempt of the law, ie, contempt of the court, non-appearance (even if the summons hasn't been succesfully delivered.)

(I speak under correction.)

 

[hj2k_x]

Yes but after months of trying to deliver a summons they will eventually issue a warrent of arrest. Non-delivery of a summons still results in contempt of the law, ie, contempt of the court, non-appearance (even if the summons hasn't been succesfully delivered.)

(I speak under correction.)

Really? I am not too sure about this either...There are a few lawyers on these forums( I am still learning to become one ) So maybe one of them will help us out here.

 

[kilo39]

... here's looking at you kid...

 

[kilo39]

... in other words: a summons sets a court date. If you are not in court it is contempt of court whether or not the summons was delivered.

Ignorance of the law (the court date) is no defense against the law.

 

[Syndyre]

... in other words: a summons sets a court date. If you are not in court it is contempt of court whether or not the summons was delivered.

Ignorance of the law (the court date) is no defense against the law.

If they can't prove you were even notified of the offence though then I think it would be a defence.

 

[kilo39]

If they can't prove you were even notified of the offence though then I think it would be a defence.

Perhaps but why argue with a Warrent of Arrest (which is eventually issued for non-delivery of summonses, and contempt of court.)

 

[Syndyre]

Perhaps but why argue with a Warrent of Arrest (which is eventually issued for non-delivery of summonses, and contempt of court.)

What I'm asking is can they legally issue a warrant of arrest because if you're not notified of the offence you're not in contempt of court.

 

[kilo39]

What I'm asking is can they legally issue a warrant of arrest because if you're not notified of the offence you're not in contempt of court.

Yes. Think about it. Fines, eventually summonses get delivered to the given registered address. They are not delivered therefore they are being evaded, or the delivery address is incorrect. Whichever way they would like to see you in a court of law and will eventually issue a warrent of arrest.

If they cannot deliver summonses it means you are somehow above the law: so yes they will eventually issue warrents.

 

[ToxicBunny]

The signage does change, eventually, but its on major thoroughfares so most people know what the speed limit is anyway.

I have been fined once for doing 100km/h on a motorway (was the M7) at like 3am because they were cleaning the "verges".... judge didn't take kindly to the police when he saw it and it was thrown out. I have also had a huge run in with the police regarding them attaching a fine to my car, which wasn't mine in the first place. Amusingly enough the onus was on ME to get the fine revoked, even though it was their stuff up....and then the proceeded to try and fine me again for parking in the court parking lot(without a license disk, which i had to take up to show the prosecutor)... lets say the station commander in verulam got a SEVERE ear bashing for that one....

Actually come to think of it, I've had my fair share of run ins with the Metro police in durban regarding traffic "offences" where I haven't been in the wrong and they've just been trying to get money out of me.