Cell phones confiscated from talkative motorists are donated to crime-fighting volunteers

Thinking of using your cell phone while driving? Think again‚ because your confiscated device could be donated to Neighbourhood Watch members.

The City of Cape Town on Tuesday said that the first batch of 150 cell phones impounded from motorists in terms of the traffic by-laws were donated to Neighbourhood Watch members today.

 According to the statement released on the city’s website‚ the impounded cell phones had not been collected by the owners and in turn became City property in terms of the impoundment policy.

 The policy further stipulates that the uncollected devices can be disposed of in a manner deemed fit by the Directorate.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security‚ Jean-Pierre Smith‚ said that thousands of phones had been impounded since the by-law‚ prohibiting cell phone usage while driving‚ came into effect in 2012.

“What we didn’t realise at the time was how much red tape we would have to cut through to clear personal data from phones that were never claimed.

 “We initially planned to auction the devices‚ but then last year we had a brainwave to donate the phones to non-governmental and community organisations instead who could put them to good use‚” he said.

Smith added that the devices are meant to help keep neighbourhood watch members in contact with each other as well as law enforcement agencies.

 “These phones aren’t necessarily the latest technology‚ but they’re more than capable of fulfilling a crucial function like making a call‚ sending a text or instant message‚ or even a ‘please call me’ in a moment of need‚” Smith said.