For just one month, 83 people were arrested and 716 warrants were issued thanks to the Automated Number Plate Recognition which will be working hard this festive season to catch drivers and criminals.
City of Cape Town Traffic Service spokesperson, Kevin Jacobs, said the technology had evolved so much that the device could assist police in catching criminals who were fleeing a crime scene, or who were in possession of a stolen vehicle or one that was hijacked, and was able to identify cloned number plates.
“Some of the CCTV cameras in the metropole have also been retrofitted with ANPR capabilities to further bolster safety and security efforts to track down criminals and or criminal activities, but also assist the SAPS with the tracking and recovery of stolen vehicles or vehicles used in the commission of a crime,” said Jacobs.
He said the main aim was to reduce crime on the streets, especially this festive season.
“The City’s Traffic Service has invested in technology over many years to address issues relating to road safety and crime prevention more effectively,” he added.
“The ANPR system is able to assist officers with a number of enforcement-related tasks, like tracking motorists with outstanding warrants, but also identifying duplicate or cloned licence plates.
“The cameras have the ability to identify number plates and then reference a VOSI list (vehicles of special interest).
“From the list, officers are able to ascertain whether there are outstanding warrants or fines on the particular vehicle. The VOSI list can also contain stolen vehicles, unlicensed vehicles, etc.
“One of the key components of operating the ANPR is using the cameras to trace outstanding warrants and for the month of November 2022, officers in three traffic Service vehicles fitted with ANPR technology arrested 83 persons and executed 716 warrants.”
Ricardo Mackenzie, provincial DA spokesperson for transport, said since lockdown regulations had come to an end. This meant the festive season for 2023 would see an increase in local and international visitors, boosting the traffic on the roads.
“The Western Cape is expecting a remarkable number of visitors from all over the world this holiday season, making it the busiest since the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
“While I am delighted that our tourism industry will profit from this, I also want to urge all tourists and residents to drive responsibly, abide by all traffic laws, and always keep other road users and pedestrians in mind.
“I also encourage the use of public transport in order to reduce traffic congestion.
“Throughout the province, intoxicated drivers and pedestrians have been some of the major causes of our high fatality rate.
“I strongly advise against driving while being intoxicated.
“I furthermore advise people who are travelling from the Western Cape to other provinces to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy and drivers are fit enough to travel long distances in order to lower the likelihood of road accidents.”