New Traffic Laws

[Chris]

A couple of years ago I was driving on the N1 Pietersburg from Wonderboom to Menlyn.It was about 10'o'clock in the morning and I was in a huge hurry.People were driving in the right hand lane and flat out refused to move over to the left lane,opting to stay in the right just to annoy me,or maybe they are ignorant.So I overtook them on the left hand side,weaving between the slow pokes.

I drove a Caddy Bakkie in those days,and the numberplate was stuck in the rear window because it fell off one day,and I didn't get around to buying a new holder for it.I came up to Rigel off-ramp and have passed a few cars,but in the far left lane was a truck that was already to close to the turn-off,and I slipped in behind it,and waited to get to the off-ramp.

As we got to the off-ramp,I switched on my indicator and started taking the off-ramp,cutting the yellow line with 2 wheels.Unbeknown to me,a unmarked traffice has followed my progress.As we took the off-ramp they pulled me over with a quick siren and flashing lights.I stopped and then the fun started.

I knew the cop,when we were young we used to play at each other's houses.I still spoke to his mom often as we were house friends.He is Afrikaans,and can barely speak English.The other cop,his partner could not speak Afrikaans.It looked like this "friend" of mine just came out of college and was trying to prove himself to his partner.I greeted him,but he wouldn't aknowledge our friendship no matter how hard I tried.He was determined to write me a ticket.

Out came the ticket book,and he started to write down particulars.Getting to the section where the offence is written in,they both got stuck.They didn't know what to write me up for,and started searching for their book to look up what I have done wrong.By this time I was very annoyed and started to tell them to hurry up,and write the damn ticket as I was in a hurry.I harrased them to no end.

The partner being English,as was the book,searched for the offences,then read them to his Afrikaans partner,who couldn't write in English,and this two tried to translate the laws.It was hillarious,and I didn't help matters much by sitting on the railing and laughing at the 2 of them.At one stage the English cop threatened to lock me up if I didn't stop laughing.I hurried them on,still!

By now they were so absolutely confused,and irritated with me,and the language translating was a disaster to say the least.I stood behind the cop and read over his shoulder,the ticket was a mess.Poor English,unreadable hand writing,translation was terrible and both couldn't spell IQ to safe their lives.As he got the the end of the ticket,I pushed the "old friend" of mine out the way,tore the ticket out the book,thanked them,got in my bakkie and drove off.

I got a R1500 fine.
R500 for my plate not being "seeable" and not "afixed" in the "cirrect" manner
R500 for "rekless" driving
R500 For "Passing the VEGRE,or taking over on the left" (I shit you not,I still have the ticket!)

Like I said,I still have the ticket,and never paid it.

But the best part was that the date was made out a year early.It was 2001,and it was dated 2000!

[Tony Z]

both couldn't spell IQ to safe their lives.

Its SAVE their lives BTW

Nice to have friends hey Chris.... I bet you didnt speak to him again.


PAssing on the left.... well I'll see you in court, the guys were hogging the right long before I arrived and if you had been doing your job properly, they wouldnt have been there and I wouldnt have had the option to pass on the left.

[Chris]

I did tell him that,and his answer was that the roads are busy!

And,no,I haven't spoken to him since then.

[CooP]

Chris, I believe that the maximum distance that is permitted for reversing is 18 metres.

[Tony Z]

So you saying when I worked at Mr Delivery and the one shortcut I used to take which involved reversing 300m down a 1-way road, wasnt quite legal?