‘Smile, you are on Candid Camera’. An old saying but one that is ringing true among Endumeni Traffic Officers.
Thanks to an initiative by acting traffic chief, Frikkie Coetzee, and back-up by colleague, Sipho Ngcobo, all seven traffic vehicles have been fitted with on-board video cameras.
Mr Coetzee sees the cameras as tools to fight crime rather than one to ‘catch out motorists’.
It all started when Mr Coetzee’s wife, Ronel, bought him a vehicle camera for Christmas. He mounted the camera next to the rear-view mirror and set it so that when his vehicle started moving, the camera started recording.
“It was amazing. When I got back to the office, I down-loaded the footage and was able to observe moving violations that one does not see while driving. By zooming on car registration plates, offenders are easily traced and charged,” he said.
His colleagues soon started clamouring to also have cameras installed in their cars, and Sipho Ngcobo stepped in to sponsor more cameras.
The cameras can also be set to constantly record even if the officer leaves the car and goes into a shop.
“With a wide view, the cameras can pick up any criminal activities that may occur in the camera’s line of vision. Business people in town have long fought to have security cameras installed in Dundee and what I foresee for this project is the installation of seven mobile security cameras. We can assist police to track down crime and hopefully cut down on the crime rate.”
Footage can easily be stored on a hard drive and kept as evidence which is admissible in court. So next time you see Frikkie and one of his officers, smile and wave!