Metro fining cars at a Mall

**Rafael** · 02-Jul-13, 04:55 PM

I was at Eastgate shopping Center yesterday, and saw metro going through all the parked vehicles and fining them.

I was just wondering if they are allowed to do this as wouldn't it be considered as private property

**Didditmiself** · 02-Jul-13, 07:09 PM

Can you be more specific; when you say they were 'going through all the parked vehicles and fining them', were they physically searching through them and then fining whom for what? How did they know whether the driver was the owner of the vehicle and therefore the responsible person? You have to be more specific before anyone can really answer you.

**ians** · 02-Jul-13, 07:19 PM

I have seen it in Durban, they fine the cars for smooth tyres, expired license discs etc. They walk through the big mall parking lots.

**Rafael** · 03-Jul-13, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by ians

I have seen it in Durban, they fine the cars for smooth tyres, expired license discs etc. They walk through the big mall parking lots.

Ian is correct, they were fining for smooth tyres, expired License while the owners were in the shopping centre unaware.
The reason I asked is if someone received a fine for smooth tyre, wouldn't they be able to say that they parked the vehicle there while they went to buy tyres or the vehicle wasn't in use.

The same with an unexpired licence, the vehicle was not in use and parked on private property.

**adrianh** · 02-Jul-13, 08:32 PM

Interesting, the question then is whether they are allowed to come into my driveway and fine me for having smooth tires? I would have thought that they would only be able to fine people during the usage of public facilities. If they are able to fine people for smooth tires on private property then what would stop them from fining each and every driver who has his car parked at the tyre fitment centre waiting to have new tires fitted. Seems like a couple of Metro cops are looking to fill their monthly fine quota using a quick n dirty method.

**ians** · 03-Jul-13, 06:58 AM

If you see how fat some of them are you will understand why they do the parking lots, I am surprised the fit between the cars.

**Mark Atkinson** · 04-Jul-13, 08:25 AM

Not to sound harsh, but there's not really anything to worry about if you just have a valid license disc and keep your tyres roadworthy?

It's never really bothered me that they give fines in public places (a shopping mall could still be considered public). Rules are rules I guess. Trying to get out of it with the excuse of "I went to buy tyres" is probably going to have the same effect as telling a policeman you were on your way to renew your expired license if they catch you in a roadblock.

**AndyD** · 05-Jul-13, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by Mark Atkinson

Not to sound harsh, but there's not really anything to worry about if you just have a valid license disc and keep your tyres roadworthy?

I don't really buy into the arguement that if you obey the law you have nothing to worry about even if the police are pushing their jurisdiction. Problem is this is how mission-creep occurs, I prefer to have the police and authorities on a very tight leash and a very clear line that they don't cross. The problem with turning a blind eye in one area is that it's only a short step for legislating it across the board. Take the Americans and their patriot act, one terrorist act on their home soil leads to a massive loss of rights for all citizens. The authorities there have extraordinary power as long as they can make some vague link with terrorism and it's amazing how all-encompassing that one word has become in the last few years.

A slight infringement here and there sets precidents and leads to larger and not necessarily wanted changes being implimented over time.

**vieome** · 05-Jul-13, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by AndyD

I don't really buy into the arguement that if you obey the law you have nothing to worry about even if the police are pushing their jurisdiction. Problem is this is how mission-creep occurs, I prefer to have the police and authorities on a very tight leash and a very clear line that they don't cross. The problem with turning a blind eye in one area is that it's only a short step for legislating it across the board. Take the Americans and their patriot act, one terrorist act on their home soil leads to a massive loss of rights for all citizens. The authorities there have extraordinary power as long as they can make some vague link with terrorism and it's amazing how all-encompassing that one word has become in the last few years.

A slight infringement here and there sets precidents and leads to larger and not necessarily wanted changes being implimented over time.

I agree AndyD, a few months ago, was given a ticket for going threw an orange, copper says it was red, my word versus his, day in court paid half the fine. The problem is that when you have a few(perhaps)) bad apples in the force looking for bribes giving them access to the mall parkings allows them to spread their wings and increase their bribe takings.

**SkyWalker42** · 04-Jul-13, 03:09 PM

A Shopping mall parking lot is private property. They are not allowed to write any ticket on private property.
I just hope the people who received the tickets do the right thing and go to court and hold the cop liable for the ticket.