Johannesburg cops bagged 173 drunk drivers between early and mid-December while running Tshela Thupa operations meant to clean up roads during the holiday season, when traffic gets wild. Police Chief Patrick Jaca said the weekly haul should freak out anyone who cares about staying alive, and previous sweeps earlier that month grabbed 182 people trying to drive while wasted.
Getting popped for driving under the influence in South Africa hits different since first-timers face fines ranging from 2,000 to 120,000 rand plus possible jail time and license suspensions lasting six months to a year. Repeat offenders risk sitting behind bars for up to six years while losing their licenses for five to ten years, and convictions stick on criminal records that mess up job prospects and travel plans.
Alcohol causes about half of fatal crashes in the country, and the last holiday period alone killed over 1,200 people on roads across the nation.
Getting popped for driving under the influence in South Africa hits different since first-timers face fines ranging from 2,000 to 120,000 rand plus possible jail time and license suspensions lasting six months to a year. Repeat offenders risk sitting behind bars for up to six years while losing their licenses for five to ten years, and convictions stick on criminal records that mess up job prospects and travel plans.
Alcohol causes about half of fatal crashes in the country, and the last holiday period alone killed over 1,200 people on roads across the nation.
