Help - I've Been Arrested for Grand Theft Auto!

• Pmyers's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Durban

  Durban, South Africa
Sunday, July 15, 2007

The crazy part of the journey has begun. On Monday, July 09, Aaron and I hired a car in Pretoria and made for the Drakensburg Mountains. This mountain range is located in the eastern central part of the country and separates South Africa from the eastern portion of Lesotho.

Insokona Lodge was our accommodation provider and we arrived at 9pm. This is a quaint little hostel at the base of the Drakensburg Mountains. Upon Arrival, we spoke with a few other visitors about what to hit the next day. Then it was bed.

The following morning we rose early.. The views were breathtaking. The first leg of the trip involved us hiking virtually straight up. It was most difficult. Once on top, we moseyed about the prairies and hills on top. This time was spent hiking about the mountains viewing scenic areas like Cascade Falls, Blind Man's Curve, Spinx Lookout, and Monk's Cowl. Afterwards, we descended and returned to the hostel.

From the hostel, we packed our things, and headed for the eastern coast. St. Lucia was our destination. It is a small coastal town on the east shore of South Africa. After a day of hiking and a four hour drive, we were exhausted. Right to bed we went upon arrival in St. Lucia.

We woke in the morning and went on a lovely nature hike. St. Lucia is home to a rare ecosystem. There is a large lake on one side of the town and the Indian Ocean is on the other. The lake is filled by a river. As a result, the surrounding area is filled with rare types of reptile, fish, and birds.

A visit to the beach was next. Room cleaned, we checked out of the hostel and headed for the beach. The coast was amazing! The striking clear blue waves of the Indian Ocean fiercely crashed into the white sandy African beaches as far as the eye could see. It was slightly windy during our visit, but I didn't care. Natural dunes formed about 100 meters in from the water. On the other side of the dunes was rich forestry. It was an incredible sight! White sand and sea of blue on one side and a sea of forest green on the other.

Browned from the beach sun, we returned to the road. Swaziland was our destination. Three hours of driving later, we arrived at the South African - Swaziland border. Leaving our car on the South African side, we walked across and into Swaziland with the intention of grabbing an afternoon snack, looking at the market, and returning to South Africa. The town we visited in Swaziland is a 'Tijuana' sort of thing minus the danger.

The Hamburger Hut was our lunch spot. I got the chicken curry with rice and Aaron got the chicken curry bunny chow. Bunny chow is a bread bowl with curry in it. Instead of a bread bowl, Aaron received a hollowed out half loaf of bread. It was pretty funny.

The lunch was delicious and we headed for the craft stands. We browsed about, picked up a few miscellaneous items and returned to customs. After officially leaving Swaziland and reentering South Africa we ran into a MAJOR problem.

Apparently, while eating lunch in Swaziland, the South African Border Police checked our rental car plates. Our license plates read CA 104 579. When checked, our plate number registered as stolen in the system.

The report was filed in February of 2007 from Cape Town, South Africa which is on the opposite side of the country. It would be as Boston is to San Diego. According to the South African Police database we were driving in a stolen vehicle.

Time elapsed: 20 minutes

I calmly explained to the officer that the vehicle was legally rented from Budget Rental but that didn't matter. Our passports were seized, we were detained, and arrested. To summarize the situation:

I am at the South African / Swaziland border on the South African side My passport was taken from me I was in possession of a stolen vehicle I am arrested and detained for Grand Theft Auto Oh and did I mention I'M IN SOUTH AFRICA

In order to be released, the 'stolen car report' must be removed from the South African Police system. This could only be accomplished by the officer who originally filed the report in the office it was filed. I.e. Cape Town.

The day we left Pretoria, Aaron and I purchased a used cellular phone for emergency situations. THIS WAS AN EMERGENCY!

Aaron called the United States Embassy and explained the situation. They got right to work for us.

I called Budget Rental Car and this was the conversation:

Budget Rental Car Guy (Guy): Hello, Budget Rentals this is Guy.

Phil: Hello this is Aaron Blue. (I said this because Aaron rented the car. Since Aaron lacks the ability to grab confrontation and beat it into submission, I made the call) I rented a car from your office on Monday July 9th. It was a white Toyota Corolla.

Guy: Oh, hello Mr. Blue. How are you today?

Phil: I'm doing fine other than the fact that I am being detained by the South African police for driving a stolen vehicle that YOU rented me.

Guy:...(silent pause).........can I have my manager call you?

Phil: Yes you can. And Guy..... make sure he calls me within the next 3 minutes because I am not pleased right now.

Guy: Of course Mr. Blue. I'll have him call you right away.

Phil: Thank you.

Guy: Bye

Time elapsed: 1 hour

Meanwhile we are still trying to sort this out in the police station. Aaron showed the police officer our rental paperwork and the officer made copies of it. He went onto explain that it was Budget's fault, but WE were driving the car. Meaning, we would have to face a judge no matter what. He said we were not in the wrong.... But we were driving a stolen vehicle.

This made no sense whatsoever, but hey, it was out of our hands. About two minutes later Dwayne, the regional manager for Budget Rental Cars phoned me.

Phil: Hello

Dwayne: Hello, Mr. Blue?

Phil: Speaking

Dwayne: This is Dwayne (so and so). I am the regional manager for Budget Rental Cars. How are you today?

Phil: I am fine other than the fact that I have been arrested for driving a car that YOU rented me.

Dwayne: Oh I see. Well here's what....

Phil: (INTERUPTING) Let me tell you the situation. I have been arrested. According to the South African Police, I am driving a stolen vehicle. Here's what you need to do. You need to contact the Cape Town police department, explain to them that the car I am driving is not stolen, and then have them clear this report for the police database. Did you get that?

Dwayne: Yes. Is there anything else I can do?

Phil: Well let's start by liberating YOUR customer from jail and then we'll see what else you can do.

Dwayne: Okay.

Phil: Call me as soon as progress is made because I'm in jail and the clock is ticking.

Dwayne: Yes I sure will. Bye

Phil: Bye

We waited. Elapsed Time: 2 hours.

Officer Mpontshane at our police station was trying to contact the Cape Town office and explain the situation. His attempts were futile. He was a really nice guy and tried to help us out as much as he could, but his hands were tied with the law.

The U.S. Embassy phoned us. They were in contact with the police station where we were incarcerated, the Cape Town Police Station, as well as Budget Rental Car. Our agent said he was doing everything he could and would try his best to free us.

Time Elapsed: 2.5 hours

I received another call from Dwayne.

Phil: Hello.

Dwayne: Mr. Blue?

Phil: Speaking.

Dwayne: Mr. Blue I just wanted to let you know that we have contacted the police officer who filed the report about the vehicle you rented. He is in the process of voiding the report and you should be freed within the next half an hour.

Phil: That's good news. Why don't you call me when he has finished removing the report form the database.

Dwane: Yes Sir.

Phil: Bye.

Shortly after that, the U.S. embassy phoned and said exactly what Dwayne had just said. The report was in the process of being lifted and it would be at most a half an hour until we were released.

Elapsed Time: 3 hours

Officer Mpontshane released us and said that the stolen vehicle report had been removed from the system. He also told us that it would be a full day until the report was removed from all the cruiser computers. This was because they are only updated once every 24 hours. Thus, to a traffic policeman, our vehicle would still register as stolen. His caution was beneficial. We wouldn't be speeding anywhere now, that's for sure.

Finally, after about three hours and fifteen minutes in the border police station, we were released and free to hit the road. I am just thankful officer Mpontshane allowed us to use our cell phone.

Ten minutes down the road, Dwayne phoned.

Phil: Hello

Dwayne: Hello, Mr. Blue?

Phil: Speaking.

Dwayne: Have you been released yet?

Phil: Yes, we were just released after roughly three hours of imprisonment.

Dwayne: I am so glad to hear that.

Phil: Yes, it is a relief.

Dwayne: I spoke with the national manager and you can be sure that we are going to sort this problem out to prevent this from happening again.

Phil: I would hope so. Now the question is, what are we going to do to resolve this from a customer relations standpoint Dwayne?... Because I just spent three hours in a South African Jail because of your company.

Dwayne: Yes, Well...

Phil: (interrupting) I mean, put yourself in my shoes Dwayne. I am in a foreign country and I rented what I thought was a legitimate vehicle.... Only to be thrown in jail because it's considered stolen vehicle. How would you feel?

Dwayne: Yes, that is troubeling

Phil: Troubling? Troubling is when your cell phone battery dies. Troubling is when you have something stuck in your teeth. Spending three hours in a foreign prison because of rental car company is downright appalling. And, by the way, I was informed that the police traffic-car computers won't be updated until tomorrow. This means, according to a traffic policeman, I am still driving a stolen vehicle. How's that for troubling. I can't even drive without an attack of paranoia. It's a nightmare! (Okay, I was hamming it up a little.... I couldn't help it.... I was having fun)

Dwayne: Wow... well I will speak with my national manger and we'll have something worked out by the time you return your vehicle.

Phil: Yes, I will be returning your vehicle first thing in the morning because I don't want to risk anything else by driving it. I would return it tonight if your office in Durban was still open by the time I arrive.

Dwayne: Yes, I understand.

Phil: Well why don't you give me a call in the morning and let me know what you have worked out for me.

Dwayne: Yes sir, I will.

Phil: Thank you.

Dwayne: Bye

Phil: Bye

What an experience. I wasn't overly worried by the situation. I knew it would work itself out. After all, I've found that worrying is like playing with your thumbs; it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere.

We drove straight from the Swaziland Border to the south side of Durban. Our destination was Warner Beach. Here we will stay until the 14th. From there we will head to Cape Town.

I need to sleep... And luckily, it's in a lodge and not in a prison...guardian angels for sure... it could have ended so significantly worse... The journey is still unfolding. More to come.