Authorities will be on high alert on the roads and beaches over the New Year weekend.
|||Authorities will be on high alert on the roads and beaches over the New Year weekend, and have warned that everything from “illegal” sexual acts to drinking and swearing in public could see offenders hit with a R1 000 fine.
This comes after the city’s law enforcement authorities released statistics on the clampdown on drinking alcohol and other activities on beaches and in other public areas over the past week, including the extended Christmas weekend.
A total of 49 by-law fines have been issued so far, and over two days between December 24 and 26, 389 traffic fines valued at R204 500 were also issued.
Of the 49 by-law fines, three R1 000 fines were issued for engaging in illegal sexual activities – “participating in any sexual activity in a street or public place”.
Explaining the zero-tolerance approach, the city’s Executive Director of Safety and Security, Richard Bosman, said: “Around summer our officers find more young lovers having sex in public areas, especially late evenings on the beach or behind the dunes.”
The booze clampdown over the festive season has seen 2 260 bottles of alcohol confiscated and stored in the city’s liquor storage facility since December 15.
Of these, 1 251 were confiscated from city beaches, with 429 bottles of alcohol seized at Camps Bay alone.
Authorities are also on alert for people who use foul language, particularly “in front of younger children”, with a R100 fine being issued so far for using abusive or threatening language in a public area.
City law enforcement officers have also targeted drunk drivers, with 15 motorists arrested in Fish Hoek alone and seven more in other areas.
Stepped-up patrols will be in place this weekend, with Western Cape Traffic Director Kenny Africa warning: “We will be going ahead with our zero-tolerance project and alcohol blitz, so people should think twice before getting behind the wheel of a car (while) under the influence of alcohol.”
Africa said officials would be monitoring places near the coast like Somerset West, Strand and the West Coast roads, where high traffic volumes were expected.
He said there had been a downward trend of drunk drivers on the roads since last year, “but we will continue to increase our patrols around the province.
Bosman said during the extended Christmas weekend 1 364 vehicles were pulled over during patrols.
“Roadblocks were held around all our beach and resort areas to check for vehicle roadworthiness and alcohol being brought on to the beaches,” he said.
High visibility patrols would remain in place in public places, with the focus on keeping liquor off the beaches, he said.
Other alcohol seized on beaches over the past few days includes:
* A total of 123 bottles of alcohol were confiscated in Big Bay, Blouberg Strand and Melkbosstrand.
* In Strandfontein, Blue Waters and Mnandi, 46 bottles were confiscated.
* In Strand, Gordon’s Bay, Macassar and Monwabisi, 523 bottles were confiscated.
* A total of 130 bottles of alcohol were confiscated in Sea Point and Clifton. - Cape Times
barbara.maregele@inl.co.za