BREAKING NEWS: Madibeng Traffic Department launches roadblock trailer to trace warrant defaulters

BRITS – On Friday, the Traffic Department at Madibeng Local Municipality launched its roadblock trailer with an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system.

The ANPR is a tool that the department will use to trace warrant defaulters who have been evading law enforcement by exploiting the border that Madibeng shares with Gauteng. And more importantly, the department hopes that being able to trace traffic offenders more easily will be a deterrent to those who are reckless on the road.

This system further identifies license plates linked to crimes anywhere in South Africa. In this way, it is also a tool that enhances crime combatting initiatives in collaboration with all South African law enforcement agencies. The ANPR also comes with gadgets that make it easy to confirm when a vehicle’s license disc has expired.

When a license plate is flagged by the ANPR, the owner is asked to identify the vehicle and then is required to pay on the spot. Only EFT payments are accepted or one is accompanied to the traffic office to make payment. If the offender is unable to pay, then they are arrested, unless they can appear in court on the same day.

The machine will be used throughout – during interprovincial operations, over the festive seasons and at roadblocks in collaboration with other stakeholders.
MMC for Public Safety, Fleet and Facilities Management, Cllr Feni Motepe was at the launch with two councillors from his portfolio committee, Cllr George Mokonoto and Cllr Peter Mokau.

Regarding the acquisition of this important technology in the traffic department, Cllr Motepe said, “We are on track to fulfill the need for updated tools of trade for our traffic officers. This will enhance the municipality’s revenue collection, so we can recoup the millions owed to the department by warrant defaulters who have been evading us.”