Black eye for blue-light cowboy
2012-06-27 08:56
CAPE TOWN'S N1 APPROACH: A driver who ignored a "ghost squad' car has been cleared of a spurious charge.
Cape Town - A driver given a R1000 "fine" for not moving out the way of a "ghost squad" car has been vindicated by the Parow Municipal Court.
Magistrate Phakama Madinda found on Tuesday that the officer who issued the fine had abused his power and driver Steven Taylor, 29, was acquitted, the Cape Times reported.
'INCONSIDERATE DRIVING'
In July 2011 Taylor was driving towards the city at 120km/h in the outer lane of the N1 when the driver of an unmarked "ghost" car flashed his headlights to indicate he must give way.
When he failed to move the car's blue lights were activated on the ghost squad car and he was pulled over and fined for "inconsiderate driving".
Taylor told the newspaper he was relieved by the court's decision.
"This clearly sends out a good message that if people are given a fine that they don't agree with they should challenge it. By law, the speed limit is 120km/h and no law can overrule that," he said.
The city introduced the "plain clothes" cars in 2009 to tackle traffic offences.
