Traffic departments in Cape Town have been instructed to clamp fewer cars parked illegally as the practice could put the driver at risk. CARtoday.com takes a look at what happens in other provinces.

Traffic departments in Cape Town have been instructed to clamp fewer cars parked illegally as the practice could put the driver at risk.

However, most other provinces do not use clamping at all.

According to the , Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Frank Kahn said authorities had to cut down on wheel-clamping as it could put women drivers at risk. Kahn said women would be targets for criminals if they were stuck at the side of the road with a clamped car.

It has been agreed that wheels will only be clamped if there is a marshal near the car. The marshal will wait for the owner to return and unclamp the car immediately on payment of the R50 fine.

Kahn told the newspaper that the money would now be kept in a fund and would be paid back to motorists if they had a valid excuse for staying too long in a parking bay.

The department recently lost one of its clamps after a motorist allegedly changed the clamped wheel for his spare and drove off with the clamped wheel in his boot.

But clamping is not used in most other provinces. Johannesburg Metro Police spokesman Wayne Minnaar said his department did not clamp. “We tow vehicles that are obstructing traffic and impound them. Those parked over their parking time get a fine. There’s no objective to clamping really,” he said.

In Durban, clamping is also not an option. “Private companies or owners of private property are entitled to clamp vehicles parked illegally on their grounds. But on public roads or parking areas clamping is not practised,” Vincent Ngubane, Durban Metropolitan Police officer, told CARtoday.com.

“If a vehicle is obstructing traffic we tow the vehicle away. The motorist then has to pay the towing fee, which is R220, in order to retrieve the vehicle. They will also have to pay a fine, but not when they fetch their vehicle. The fine amount depends on where the car is parked,” he said.

Ngubane said they always ensured that a marshal or policeman was there to inform the motorist that the car had been towed. “We do not want the motorist to think the vehicle has been stolen, so someone has to be there to inform them of what has happened. If they do not have transport to fetch the vehicle, the policeman in the area can arrange transport, or they can contact the metro police for transport. We do not want motorists to be stranded,” Ngubane said.

Bloemfontein traffic officials also do not use clamping. “We did use it before, but have stopped as it is not practical. Instead, we pick up vehicles that are blocking traffic or cars that are parked in loading zones illegally,” said George van Vuuren, principal inspector of the Bloemfontein traffic police.

“Those just parked illegally, but not causing a problem, are fined. Another company, International Parking Management, will be taking over the supervision of parking offences, but answering to the municipal authorities,” said Van Vuuren.

Is wheel-clamping a good idea? What, in your opinion, is a practical alternative?

Original article from Car