{"id":343698,"date":"2019-09-30T18:00:58","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T16:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=343698"},"modified":"2019-09-30T16:12:07","modified_gmt":"2019-09-30T14:12:07","slug":"cape-town-is-introducing-new-traffic-changes-including-impounding-mobile-phones-and-donating-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/343698\/cape-town-is-introducing-new-traffic-changes-including-impounding-mobile-phones-and-donating-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Cape Town is introducing new traffic changes – including impounding mobile phones and donating them"},"content":{"rendered":"

The City of Cape Town has published its amended traffic by-law for public comment<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

First introduced in 2011, the by-law regulates public transport vehicles and traffic within the city\u2019s jurisdiction.<\/p>\n

One of the key aspects of the original by-law was the impoundment of cellphones of motorists caught using the devices while driving.<\/p>\n

Chairperson of the City\u2019s Safety and Security Portfolio Committee, Mzwakhe Nqavashe, said the city will now actively use this section of the by-law to punish motorists.<\/p>\n

Instead of being either auctioned or destroyed, the by-law now makes provision for the phones to be donated to neighbourhood watches, NGOs or non-profit organisations.<\/p>\n

However this process is not automatic, and motorists have a number of opportunities to get their phone back should it be confiscated.<\/p>\n

“National legislation makes it illegal to use a cellphone while operating a motor vehicle, which means that a motorist will be fined if caught,” Nqavashe said.<\/p>\n

“In Cape Town, the traffic by-law stays true to legislation in this regard, but also makes allowance for the impoundment of cellphones by authorised officials.<\/p>\n

“This was the big talking point when the by-law was first introduced, but it was and remains part of the City\u2019s efforts to reduce distracted driving and improve road safety.”<\/p>\n

Other changes<\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition to the new sections around phones, the by-law has now been amended to include five new chapters dealing with a number of new infringements.<\/p>\n

Notably, in terms of the draft document, authorised officials may, in the interest and the safety of the public, without prior written notice, impound vehicles where the:<\/p>\n