Colin Burgess writes:
In a conversation with a friend this morning, it came to light that the George Traffic Department intends, through electronic capture, to garner 4 000 traffic violations per month.
This sounds more like revenue collection than promoting road safety. With a verified collection rate of less than 10%, the system seems flawed. If my source this morning is accurate, the cost of purchase and installation of any electronic device seems to outweigh the collection of fines!
I think the traffic department needs to rethink its actions. Are they into road safety or revenue collection?
I have been issued with a violation, but as I am reliably informed by a lawyer, the device was incorrectly positioned! It has to follow the law and not what the traffic department thinks is OK! I'm puzzled.
Municipality responds:
According to George Traffic Chief Janine Wells, the placement of cameras is based on approved high accident rate locations by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Western Cape, and not aimed at revenue targets.
George Traffic records multiple accidents per day due to excessive speeding and moving offences. Cameras are rotated per location once speed reduction has been achieved.
We suggest the letter's writer make contact with the Public Prosecutor, Traffic Matters: mhopewell@george.gov.za, or sends queries on fines and representations to clindt@george.gov.za or 044 878 2400 to address the violation referred to in the letter.
