‘Cops have no right to impound vehicles’

On impounding vehicles for motorists unable to pay spot fines, Minister Chinamasa said while he had not made adequate research on the law, his view was that it was illegal.
“I need to look at that, but off the cuff, I would not think that they have got the power to impound. My off-the-cuff answer is that, they do not have that power but I could be wrong. I need to find out because I do not find the justification for impounding the vehicle worth US$20 000 for a spot fine of US$20. It is so disproportionate,” he said.
The minister said the prudence of imposing spot fines was that the police did not have enough mechanism to trace a person to ensure that the fine is eventually paid.
It was noted that 99 percent of those ticketed did not subsequently pay their fines.
“That is basically the headache the police have. If you do not follow up a crime and you do not enforce, it will lead to contempt of the law,” he said. 
On smashing of windscreens, Minister Chinamasa described it as “harassment and intimidation”.
“No one has the right to break other people’s property.
“So if there are instances where any police officers have broken or damaged any person’s property, they are entitled, those who are affected or those who are aggrieved to take those matters to a civil court and sue the police for damages.
“Those are your rights and you should be able to enforce your rights,” he said.
Police have already said spot fines would remain in force because people ignored or never bothered to pay after being penalised for committing traffic offences.