Opinion / WhatsApp Updates
Abuse of power by traffic cops
01 May 2015 at 05:13hrs | Views
8:53am, Apr 29 - +263 7* *** ****: Hi there. Below is a copy of a query I made to the Kwekwe ZRP regarding the legality of their traffic officers impounding vehicles of those that fail to pay spot fines at roadblocks:
"I am from Redcliff. My elderly mom (68 years old) recently bought a car from Japan. The car crossed into Zimbabwe on 2 April 2015 from Zambia via Chirundu Border Post. So three weeks ago (when the car had just been in the country for a week) we were stopped twice by traffic police officers at roadblocks. First by Redcliff traffic police near Steelmakers Pvt Ltd and then by Kwekwe traffic police at Chicago (along Bulawayo road). The story was the same... that we did not have temporary paper plates. My elderly mom explained that she did not know anything about temporary plates, as the border officials had only told her about the need to register the car within 14 days after importation. (We later learnt that the temporary plates are not even available at Chirundu). The traffic officers then said she should pay a $10 spot fine. She said that she did not have any money with her. That is when the officers said that they were taking the car. My mom said that they could take the car as she honestly did not have any money. But after a few minutes of the same threats from the officers to impound the car, they then told my mom that she could go. So we were left buffled, as we do not understand the legality of the traffic officers' actions."
The ZRP responded by only saying that traffic officers were not allowed to impound vehicles in such a scenario. Therefore, can you please highlight such abuses of power by traffic police, so that these are put to an end. Thank you very much.
Best regards.
Tendai R. M.
"I am from Redcliff. My elderly mom (68 years old) recently bought a car from Japan. The car crossed into Zimbabwe on 2 April 2015 from Zambia via Chirundu Border Post. So three weeks ago (when the car had just been in the country for a week) we were stopped twice by traffic police officers at roadblocks. First by Redcliff traffic police near Steelmakers Pvt Ltd and then by Kwekwe traffic police at Chicago (along Bulawayo road). The story was the same... that we did not have temporary paper plates. My elderly mom explained that she did not know anything about temporary plates, as the border officials had only told her about the need to register the car within 14 days after importation. (We later learnt that the temporary plates are not even available at Chirundu). The traffic officers then said she should pay a $10 spot fine. She said that she did not have any money with her. That is when the officers said that they were taking the car. My mom said that they could take the car as she honestly did not have any money. But after a few minutes of the same threats from the officers to impound the car, they then told my mom that she could go. So we were left buffled, as we do not understand the legality of the traffic officers' actions."
The ZRP responded by only saying that traffic officers were not allowed to impound vehicles in such a scenario. Therefore, can you please highlight such abuses of power by traffic police, so that these are put to an end. Thank you very much.
Best regards.
Tendai R. M.
Source - Tendai R. M.
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