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Know Your Rights

Kelly Lodewyks By:
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 08:25 am GMT +2

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By Kelly Lodewyks

Ever been stopped at a roadblock or pulled over by a traffic cop and felt a little uneasy at the way that the officer handled the situation? Below are some helpful points, compiled by Corruption Watch, as featured on a new Know Your Rights card:

  • If stopped by the police you can ask to see the officer’s appointment card, which includes the officer’s picture, name, rank, force and station according to Section 334 (2) (a) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.
  •  If a police officer refuses to identify him/herself you do not have to show your driver’s licence.
  •  If you don’t have your driver’s licence or ID, a police officer may detain you for 12 hours to ascertain your identity.
  •  A male police officer is not allowed to search a woman, but he can ask you to empty your pockets and bag.
  •  You are not obliged to pay fines on the spot. However, if there is a warrant of arrest against you, then you can be detained until the fines are paid.
  •  If you are pulled over for drunk driving, a police officer must take you to the police station to open a docket before you are taken to a clinic for a blood test. A blood test must be done within two hours.
  •  A police officer may not verbally abuse or intimidate you or anyone else. Get the details of any officer who has treated you unjustly.

 

A copy of the Know Your Rights card is available for download from www.corruptionwatch.org.za.

 


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PLEASE NOTE: The opinion expressed in this article is the author's own and publication does not mean it is endorsed by the CAR magazine editorial staff or RamsayMedia, publishers of CAR magazine.
  • Krutch

    Doesn’t help knowing your rights. They will see your questioning them as being ckcy and argumentative and that’s when they get even worse. There is no way to win. There are enough “cops” that rob people to make you not want to stop for them when they tell you too. We’re told that if we’re wary of them, we must drive to the closest police station and handle it there. Then we see ministers telling the cops to be more aggressive, to shoot more. So which is it? Stop for the cops and get harrassed (possibly worse) or drive away from then and risk getting shot at?

  • Tyson

    But I want conformation, as far as I understand when the police, be it metro or NPA, are speed trapping with a lazer, they are not allowed to hide away like they do?
    And if its true can we refuse to accept the fine if they issue it illegally, ie. I say Ill take it but I wont sign for it?

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