So I paid JMPD a bribe

[MagicDude4Eva]

Not my proudest moment and the lead-up to it was the drive home last night from Bryanston towards Fourways on Main Rd with the intention of turning left into Witkoppen Rd. If you commute this area, you will know that filing into the turning lane for Witkoppen requires you on a busy day to file into the emergency lane 300-400 metres before Witkoppen. Last night traffic was busier than usual and I could not file in, nor would anyone give me a gap - so I proceeded straight and turned left into Witkoppen from the straight lane on Main.

Yes, according to AARTO I was at fault: "Failed to comply with the directions conveyed by a road traffic sign by not proceeding straight as indicated by the arrow"

The female JMPD officer saw it the same way and pulled four cars over. She started with the Merc, Beemer and Audi behind me and after a 1/2 minute discussion with each driver she let them go. My turn came and I was outright told "I am going to write you a fine for R1200 because you turned on a straight". I questioned the the actual violation and the fine but then was told, that she can make it easy or difficult for me.

I admitted that it was my fault and I expected to be let off with a verbal warning, since the other 3 cars behind me also did not get a fine. Then she just outright said "I made a deal with the others, and can do the same with you. How much can you afford?". So I put 200 bucks into my ID-book and got a friendly "thank you" and continued my commute home.

Not quite happy about this as friends had similar experiences, reported the cops and subsequently had a hell of a time with harassment from fellow JMPD staff. None of the corrupt officials ever got disciplined.

While others say "Damn, you could have gotten away for 100 bucks" and some say "You should have reported her" and others "The right thing would have been to accept the fine", I just felt, that why should I waste my time to fight against corrupt cops or contest an insanely high fine (she wanted to charge me R1200, whereas I argued that this would not be more than R500 bucks before the discount according to AARTO).

I guess the time has come where I have recalibrated my moral compass with our president. I guess if I run into the same situation again, I will push them to give me a fine and settle. I doubt it would be worthwhile reporting cops for asking for bribes as this would clearly go no-where. Any thoughts / suggestions?

 

[Datura]

I accept the fines always. I have a friend who is in the business of getting fines reduced significantly if not written off entirely. A bribe can turn out very VERY badly for you.

 

[Beachless]

The right way to do it is to wait for the bribe request then say thanks now that you incriminated yourself write the fine so I have all your details.

Then leave with your warning.

 

[jerome000]

Admin fees are much easier that way...

 

[LazyLion]

Personally, I would never pay a bribe, since there is a greater risk that I might do jail time if it is ever discovered.
The AARTO system is a screw up, but if you put the time in you can usually get the fine reduced or even squashed.
Heck, it's even better to just take the fine and then ignore it.
And usually they are too lazy to write out the fine, so they just say "go, and don't do it again".

 

[AceSwiftShooter]

The right way to do it is to wait for the bribe request then say thanks now that you incriminated yourself write the fine so I have all your details.

Then leave with your warning.

+1. sounds like a proper plan.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

The right way to do it is to wait for the bribe request then say thanks now that you incriminated yourself write the fine so I have all your details.

Then leave with your warning.

Problem is that you have zero proof against the cop (unless you manage to audio-/video-record the conversation). I would never offer a bribe to a cop, but she was very skilled in this and her motive was purely to collect bribes and nothing else. Worst part was that her 3 other colleagues were nearby and it is obvious that all of them are complicit. So no chance that you will be able to influence / report such an issue without any outcome to have it stopped.

Perhaps my "european guilt" is setting in - according to the locals, I overpaid and should tell the same cop during the next infringement, that "i have one free".

 

[LazyLion]

The right way to do it is to wait for the bribe request then say thanks now that you incriminated yourself write the fine so I have all your details.

Then leave with your warning.

Nope, they are so corrupt that they will make your life hell if you threaten them.
Not worth it. Just say kindly, I was at fault, please give me the ticket maam.
Don't say anything more or less. You will be on your way much quicker.

 

[Pitbull]

Lol?

I would have made her do the effort of writing out the ticket and threw it away when I got home. You over paid by R 200

 

[Kal86]

Reporting them could land you in hot water. Haven't ever been asked out right for a bribe but a few years ago a cop stopped me and said he could fine me or we could make a plan. I told him to give me the fine and he told me to go. Always ask for the fine, if you have done wrong be courteous and admit it. I don't want to pay bribes because I have heard stories of how some Metro Cops make upwards of R50k a month from bribes.....

 

[Archer]

/notes that OP is a criminal

 

[LazyLion]

Reporting them could land you in hot water. Haven't ever been asked out right for a bribe but a few years ago a cop stopped me and said he could fine me or we could make a plan. I told him to give me the fine and he told me to go. Always ask for the fine, if you have done wrong be courteous and admit it. I don't want to pay bribes because I have heard stories of how some Metro Cops make upwards of R50k a month from bribes.....

Yep, I find they are very sympathetic or forgiving if you just say "I know I was at fault, I was in a hurry to get home, and I promise I won't do it again."
99% of the time they just let you go.

 

[Beachless]

Problem is that you have zero proof against the cop (unless you manage to audio-/video-record the conversation). I would never offer a bribe to a cop, but she was very skilled in this and her motive was purely to collect bribes and nothing else. Worst part was that her 3 other colleagues were nearby and it is obvious that all of them are complicit. So no chance that you will be able to influence / report such an issue without any outcome to have it stopped.

Perhaps my "european guilt" is setting in - according to the locals, I overpaid and should tell the same cop during the next infringement, that "i have one free".

You may have zero proof but if enough people complain about a corrupt cop there are independent bodies that take a look. Anyways it works for me as they always ask for a bribe and I will quite happily pay a fine I deserve. I also have the two anti corruption numbers on my phone.

 

[The_MAC]

I got fined recently R1500 for driving with an expired licence disk (it was 2 weeks expired, first time ever), and this was in Mpumalanga. As soon as she hinted at a bribe, I told her "Sorry, I actually have a conscience and integrity". I then and there drove 30km to the magistrate in the area, and got it squashed to R500, paid it, and felt pretty relieved for not falling into the trap. Plus, I don't think I will ever forget to renew the licence disk.

Th only way to break this plague, is to simply start paying. But yeah, its tempting to part with R200 rather than R1500..

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

Yep, I find they are very sympathetic or forgiving if you just say "I know I was at fault, I was in a hurry to get home, and I promise I won't do it again."
99% of the time they just let you go.

i did just that. I explained that I could not file in and that me turning was done in a safe/non-hazardous way (after all, I turned from the straight into the outer lane - so no obstruction etc). She was in for the bribe and did not want to hear anything else. TBH, if it wasn't for a long/exhausting day, I would have done it differently and just asked her to write out the fine. Lesson learned, glad to see that others have more moral fibre in this situation.

 

[loc]

The right way to do it is to wait for the bribe request then say thanks now that you incriminated yourself write the fine so I have all your details.

Then leave with your warning.

Sounds like a good way to get yourself arrested on a made up charge

 

[Pitbull]

I got fined recently R1500 for driving with an expired licence disk (it was 2 weeks expired, first time ever), and this was in Mpumalanga. As soon as she hinted at a bribe, I told her "Sorry, I actually have a conscience and integrity". I then and there drove 30km to the magistrate in the area, and got it squashed to R500, paid it, and felt pretty relieved for not falling into the trap. Plus, I don't think I will ever forget to renew the licence disk.

Th only way to break this plague, is to simply start paying. But yeah, its tempting to part with R200 rather than R1500..

You got faked by both the magistrate and the Metro cop.

You have 28 days to renew an expired disc after it expired

 

[Sinbad]

/notes that OP is a criminal

CoJ already knew that

 

[AfricanTech]

/notes that OP is a criminal

I think the FBI should be contacted...

 

[SauRoNZA]

The right way to do it is to wait for the bribe request then say thanks now that you incriminated yourself write the fine so I have all your details.

Then leave with your warning.

I was about to ask wouldn't the situation turn out much like that if you then said okay what's your badge number and name please.