South African banks are employing agents to drive around with unmarked vehicles equipped with number plate recognition cameras to repossess hundreds of cars, The Star newspaper reported today.
The cameras are reportedly a new technology called the international vehicle identification desk (IVID). The Star’s report said both banks and the owners of the technology claimed to be operating within the confines of the law.
Rudolf Mahoney, spokesperson for Wesbank, reportedly told the newspaper the use of the IVID system forms part of a joint initiative with the South African Police Service, Business Against Crime, and other banks.
Furthermore Mahoney said the technology has been used for 14 months already, recovering 90 vehicles a month.
However, the South African Board of Sheriffs and traffic experts maintain the repossession of a vehicle by a person other than a court, a sheriff or a police officer is illegal.
Howard Dembovsky, national chairperson of the Justice Project of South Africa, reportedly said court orders have to be original, be stamped by the court and delivered by a sheriff.
