MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – A “spot fine” of R2 000 (or how much have you got?) immediately payable in cash alongside the toll road – this was the rather confusing and unnerving demand which a housewife of Mopane had to face earlier this week from a provincial traffic official on the N1.

Ms Brits of Mopane was stopped and confronted by the official, after a slowmoving heavy vehicle politely left the tar to make way for her to pass alongside a solid line. The official stressed the gravity of the offence and demanded the immediate payment of R2 000 in cash.

When Mrs Brits protested that she did not have that kind of money with her, the official wanted to know: “How much do you have?”

He settled for a cash payment of R200, before she was allowed to continue her journey.

In Louis Trichardt, Ms Brits contacted the municipal traffic authorities and the police. An investigation was immediately launched to identify the culprit.

Mr Koos Brits (no relation to Ms Brits) of the Municipal Traffic Department said on enquiry no traffic official can under any circumstances demand the immediate cash payment of a fine from a motorist. Officials can only issue a written summons, which will indicate the period within which an amount in admission of guilt can be paid at an appropriate office and the date to appear in court, if admission of guilt is not paid.

He said when motorists are confronted by officials along the road, they have the right to demand that the official identify himself. In case of unlawful actions, the date, time and place of the incident should be carefully recorded along with the appropriate vehicle registration numbers and it should be reported immediately to the nearest police station.