SA justice gone amok
Michael Cookson
Reproduced from The Daily News - Friday, 14th February
Magistrate's ruling on red-light fine slammed
By CLINTON NAGOOR and ISHANI BECHOO
POLICE have advised people to take all the necessary precautions to
prevent them from becoming victims of hijacking. In the light of
numerous hijackings at traffic lights and intersections people should
be aware of the danger and should be careful, police said.
The issue of stopping at traffic lights late at night or in the early
hours of the morning was raised by two Pinetown women: Gail Norton and
her daughter Bronwyn Norton.
Miss Bronwyn Norton was fined R500 by a Pinetown magistrate for
jumping a red traffic light in the middle of the night. She claimed to
have stopped first to check for traffic before proceeding, only to be
caught by the traffic camera.
Miss Norton pleaded not guilty to the offence on the grounds that she
was alone at 1.20am and was scared. Her mother had survived an
attempted hijacking at the same intersection of Crompton and Old Main
roads.
Her original fine was R250 but was doubled by the magistrate who told
her she willingly put herself in danger by driving alone at night. The
magistrate, M.H. Mathe was not available for comment.
The Pinetown chief magistrate, Paulus Venter, said today that the
matter would be referred to the Department of Justice.
Mrs Gail Norton said she was "tired of men sitting back and saying
that women asked to be raped, mugged or murdered because of the way
they dressed or because they went outdoors".
Miss Norton wrote a letter to Minister of Justice, Dullah Omar,
seeking clarity on what the law expected people to do while travelling
late at night in view of the country's crime rate.
Inspector Vish Naidoo, police spokesman, said people should assess the
situation at intersections and in a manner which places no one else at
risk and take adequate measures.
A spokesman for Durban City Police said traffic lights were there to
regulate traffic and they could not tell people to go through red
lights.
However, in the light of hijackings women should be careful.
City Police could not cancel fines. This was up to the senior public
prosecutor.
-----------------------------------<snip>------------------------------
This same magistrate is probably the same one letting the murderers out
on bail...
Nuts, hey?
- Mike
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Koos
On 14 Feb 97 21:11:00 GMT, mi...@dv.co.za (Michael Cookson) wrote:
<<>Miss Norton pleaded not guilty to the offence on the grounds that
she
>was alone at 1.20am and was scared. Her mother had survived an
>attempted hijacking at the same intersection of Crompton and Old Main
>roads.>>>
Saw the article in a J'Burg newspaper.
If the facts are reported correctly, the magistrate should be fired
for incompetence and for stupidity and for lack of knowledge of the
law.
From the basics of law that I studied way back, it seems to me it can
even be a straight forwards case of self defence.
Like when you break into your neighbour's house because you see a fire
in his living room. If you had reason to believe there was a fire and
a danger you cannot be guilty of house breaking.
Fire the jerk.
Magistrates never had a good name. They were always known for being a
bit dof and not always understanding finely and for being partial many
times (the real legal minds were found in the higher courts) but this
guy takes the cake.
GaiJin
On 14 Feb 97 21:11:00 GMT, mi...@dv.co.za (Michael Cookson) typed:
>Reproduced from The Daily News - Friday, 14th February
>
>Magistrate's ruling on red-light fine slammed
>
>By CLINTON NAGOOR and ISHANI BECHOO
>
>POLICE have advised people to take all the necessary precautions to
>prevent them from becoming victims of hijacking. In the light of
>numerous hijackings at traffic lights and intersections people should
>be aware of the danger and should be careful, police said.
>
>The issue of stopping at traffic lights late at night or in the early
>hours of the morning was raised by two Pinetown women: Gail Norton and
>her daughter Bronwyn Norton.
>
>Miss Bronwyn Norton was fined R500 by a Pinetown magistrate for
>jumping a red traffic light in the middle of the night. She claimed to
>have stopped first to check for traffic before proceeding, only to be
>caught by the traffic camera.
>
>Miss Norton pleaded not guilty to the offence on the grounds that she
>was alone at 1.20am and was scared. Her mother had survived an
>attempted hijacking at the same intersection of Crompton and Old Main
>roads.
>
Absulutely F-ed Up! But what in this country is not these days?
ri...@icon.co.za
mi...@dv.co.za (Michael Cookson) wrote:
> -- SPEED 2.00 #1090: Dataverters WWW: http://www.iafrica.com/~datavert/
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> Use of my e-mail address for solicitation is strictly prohibited <<
>Michael Cookson (M.SAIETE, M.SAIMC) E-mail: mi...@dv.co.za
>Editor (Africa): TELE-satellite International E-mail: edi...@dv.co.za
>Member: Satellite Communications Data Exchange: SATCO DX inc
>Member: Satellite Communications Association of Southern Africa: SCASA
>Member: Dataverters CC - Electronic Engineering +27-31-765-5551
>Dataverters CC: P O Box 275, Gillitts 3603, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The law is there to guide the rich and to punish the poor
Michael Cookson
In Message-Id: <5ecdvn$c...@hermes.is.co.za>,
ri...@icon.co.za wrote:
R> mi...@dv.co.za (Michael Cookson) wrote:
R>
R> >Reproduced from The Daily News - Friday, 14th February
R> >
R> >Magistrate's ruling on red-light fine slammed
R> >
R> >By CLINTON NAGOOR and ISHANI BECHOO
R> >
R> >POLICE have advised people to take all the necessary precautions to
R> >prevent them from becoming victims of hijacking. In the light of
R> >numerous hijackings at traffic lights and intersections people should
R> >be aware of the danger and should be careful, police said.
[snip]
R> >
R> >City Police could not cancel fines. This was up to the senior public
R> >prosecutor.
[snip]
R> The law is there to guide the rich and to punish the poor
Please be so kind as to elucidate this one-liner of yours, in
regard to this post. Thrill us with your acumen.
vy...@loxinfo.co.th
I too have jumped robots
out of fear and I had my loaded
rossi lying in my lap, with all
doors locked.
I even where a hat to hide my
long auburn hair, and vellies
instead of heels.
I am careful, never getting to close
to the car in front of me, at the robot,
scanning the area
I remain in gear, ready for action.
paranooia ?
you bet, but I will survive !
Vyg Fynbos