What Can You Be Arrested For At A Roadblock? These Are Your Rights

With traffic expected to spike significantly on South Africas roads from Thursday afternoon, as motorists head to their Easter weekend destinations, authorities are also ramping up their enforcement activities.

This means South Africans will be faced with more roadblocks, as authorities seek to clamp down on dangerous driving and unroadworthy vehicles, but its also important for motorists to know what their rights are when pulled over by police.

Kirstie Haslam, Partner at DSC Attorneys, explains that police cannot force you to pay fines on the spot as this amounts to extortion.

Arrest is only lawful if a valid warrant is shown. If no warrant exists, officers may issue a summons, with a court date at least 14 days away excluding Sundays and public holidays, Haslam reiterated.

RTMC communications head Simon Zwane said that while officers are permitted to detain you if a warrant of arrest has been issued by a court, officers are not permitted to physically or verbally abuse you or damage your property in any way.