City Police Public Relations Officer, Fabian Amukwelele, on Friday called upon Windhoek residents with outstanding traffic fines and warrants of arrest to pay them at the City Police headquarters or risk being arrested. In an interview with NAMPA, Amukwelele said there are approximately 56 000 outstanding warrants of arrest from drivers who owe a combined N$10 million in fines and penalties. Amukwelele said those with traffic fines and outstanding warrants should approach the municipal court at Bismarck Street in order to settle or risk being arrested when City Police commences its warrant of arrest screening at roadblocks during the festive season. “The festive season is the busiest month and we are going to set up various roadblocks around Windhoek. If a driver of a vehicle is found to have outstanding warrants they will be arrested and taken into custody,” he warned. Amukwelele added that owners of vehicles that have warrants and traffic fines but were not the driver of the vehicle when the warrant was issued can approach the court in order to contest and present their cases for deliberation. “Failure to do so may result in them being inconvenienced as a result of the actions of others,” he said. Amukwelele informed Nampa the majority of drivers with outstanding warrants are taxi drivers. He said the most common traffic violations are speeding, running traffic lights, expired license disks and parking in a place where a driver is not allowed to park. “Unfortunately for those who owe money, the City Police will not be lenient in their approach when making arrests.” He explained that drivers should arrange to pay their fines in full and that there will be no arrangement for payments in instalments for those who have accrued fines which they cannot afford to pay. “We encourage people with outstanding fines to come and pay, but the police do not make arrangements for payment in instalments. We simply collect that which is owed. If drivers feel they cannot afford to pay they should get contributions from their family members and settle,” Amukwelele said. -NAMPA