CRIME SCENE: Sea Point, Cape Town: An alleged drunk driver has been arrested and his car impounded after a high speed chase with the City’s Ghost Squad.

According to the City it all started with a park-off event in Sea Point on Sunday, 18 October 2026 when the Ghost Squad conducted an operation after receiving complaints of wheel spinning, reckless driving and racing along Beach Road.

When officers tried to pull over a white BMW for reckless and negligent driving, the driver instead accelerated in a bid to get away. At a parking area in Green Point, he lost control and side-swiped another vehicle.

Officers conducted a breathalyser test that put the suspect well over three times the prescribed legal limit. 

The driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless and negligent driving. The vehicle was also impounded in terms of the City’s Traffic By-law.

During the operation two more vehicles were impounded for operating without license plates. 

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith,  said they issued repeated warnings to road users about dangerous and unlawful behaviour, to no avail.

“This particular ‘park off’ and the many other illegal racing events around the city elicit ongoing complaints from the public, and for good reason.

“We’ve impounded several vehicles since the amended Traffic By-Law came into effect, so I advise scofflaws to tread carefully or face the same consequence. There are legal ways to exercise their need for speed without putting the public at risk, so they really have no excuse for their behaviour,” said Smith.

The alleged drunk driver was one of 474 suspects arrested by City enforcement departments last week.

In general enforcement over the past week, Traffic Officers arrested 45 suspects, 34 for drunk driving, six for reckless and negligent driving, and five on other charges.

Law Enforcement officers made 282 arrests and Metro Police 158. They also recovered six hijacked and/or stolen vehicles, two prohibited firearms and 23 rounds of ammunition, and issued 6 900 fines for various transgressions.

The public is reminded to report incidents and emergencies, or any suspicious and/or criminal activities, to the Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) on 021 480 7700, or to log by-law and traffic-related complaints using the Safety and Security feature on the City App.