Johannesburg metro police have denied harassing patrons at a Norwood restaurant to show their driver’s licences in a hunt for outstanding traffic fines.
”Metro police did not ask the people inside the restaurant if they had outstanding traffic fines,” spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said on Tuesday.
”They actually checked for smoking-designated areas, for liquor licences and for drugs and firearms,” he said.
The Star reported patrons and owners at a restaurant in Norwood’s Grant Avenue as saying metro police entered and demanded to see the driver’s licences of diners.
This was part of an operation to check for outstanding warrants of arrest, the newspaper reported.
Metro police embarked on a drive last week to track down people with warrants of arrest against them after failure to pay R280-million in fines.
The campaign involves raids and house calls, metro police said at the start of the exercise.
They said a company executive with 102 warrants for traffic fines amounting to R106 000 was among those who could expect visits from metro police officers.
Also on the list was a ”lady driver” with 52 warrants totalling R35 000.
Minnaar said on Tuesday the Criminal Procedure Act does not specify where a warrant of arrest can be executed.
”This could take place at any time, at someone’s home or place of work.”
A total of 550 motorists have been arrested for outstanding traffic warrants since the start of the campaign, Minnaar said. — Sapa