Johannesburg - Mobile speed cameras should be banned as they give room for human error, Justice Project South Africa said on Monday.

"Mobile speed cameras leave room for human error, instead we want the number of stationary cameras to be increased," JPSA chairperson Howard Dembovsky told a press conference.

Most of the people who operate mobile cameras were not adequately trained to operate them and motorists were forced to pay "fraudulent fines" to avoid being prosecuted, he said. He argued that more visible policing was needed to deter road offenders.

%%Panel.ArticleOptionsPanel%%

Dembovsky said that the country should move towards introducing more visible speed cameras to reduce reckless driving on the roads.

Not stopping unroadworthy vehicles

"These things [mobile speed cameras] are just weapons of mass prosecution. We are not saying speed does not kill, but Johannesburg metro police department is not stopping unroadworthy vehicles on our roads.

"All they do is hide behind the bushes hoping to find a speedster."

Dembovsky highlighted the need to move towards a system where road offenders were stopped and fined at the scene where they committed the offence. The trapping business was becoming a money-making industry and was not helping in making the roads safer.

JPSA is an organisation that advises motorists about unfair traffic fines.

Update : JMPD defends speed cameras

There is nothing wrong with mobile speed cameras or the officers operating them, Johannesburg metro police said on Tuesday.

"All laser speed cameras which are used get checked and calibrated and are also issued with calibration certificates every six months," said Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.

"The sites where speed cameras are placed have been pre-approved by the director of public prosecutions..."
It was a "department of repute" that enforced the law according to the National Road Traffic Act, the Criminal Procedures Act and the Administration and Adjudication of Road Offences Act, in line
with Constitution.

Minnaar said all officers operating speed cameras had been trained and were in possession of operator's certificates. "If, however, there are any individuals within the JMPD who are flouting the laws which we are supposed to uphold, they must be reported."

Minnaar called on anybody who may know of corrupt officials to call the JMPD's acting director of internal affairs Beauty Legoabe on 011-490-1703, fax her on 011-490-1628, or call the JMPD's hotline on 0800-203-712.