Cape Town Safety and Security MMC JP Smith hasannounced that the council will now be focusing on impounding luxury vehiclesfound to be in violation of city bylaws, in particular, those who ride aroundwithout legal license plates.

Smith has said the vehicles will be withheld in impounduntil fines and legal fees are paid. He argues this strict approach iscommonsense, and necessary to enforce order on our roads, where many areendangered by reckless driving.

The impound program is likely to draw vital revenue for thecity in the face of national cutbacks for provincial and local government grantsfollowing the recent budget statement.

Smith issued a statement on social media hitting back atthose accusing his office of targeting the poor, insisting that the law appliesto all, indiscriminate of background.

“There were those who commented previously, stating that ourtraffic by-law unfairly targeted the poor who could not maintain the roadworthystatus of their vehicles. Our traffic by-law is designed to improve road safetyand does not discriminate between the rich and the poor, and here is theevidence,” Smith said.

He posted a video on Facebook showing off the luxury carsseized under the programme, including many supercars and luxury vehicles thatwere impounded by traffic officials and are secured at the impound lot.

Smith said in the video:

“If you can afford a vehicle like this, you can afford toput a number plate on it. These are the vehicles without number plates that weare impounding, where the drivers are driving vehicles [without number plates].But, for whatever reason, quite possibly an attempt to defeat the ends ofjustice, a number plate has not been fitted […] The City's by-law is busyworking and targeting those drivers who present a material danger to otherpeople on the road through inconsiderate behaviour, reckless behaviour, ordrunk and irresponsible driving." 

JP Smith came under criticism recently for his firm approachto the taxi strikes, which threatened to paralyse the city. Cartel bosses weredemanding immunity from punitive measures under traffic bylaws, and theirorganisations engaged in widespread violence to make their point.

Smith drew criticism from ANC members for claiminghisdepartment would “proceed with impounding 25 vehicles for every truck, bus,vehicle or facility that is burnt or vandalised”.

South Africa was recently found to have among the leaststrict road laws, according to “Compare The Market AU research,” who rankedglobal traffic regimes according to six distinct indicators, such as blood-alcohollimits, cell-phone and seatbelt regulations, and speed limits,.

Based on this model, South Africa is the absolute leaststrict country in the world receiving the lowest score of any country in thecomparison - 3.13 out of 10.

This is mainly explained by our higher speed limits, butalso due to our more relaxed blood-alcohol restrictions.