Rights of Traffic Officer at road block

Question

If stopped in a roadblock, what is the allowed procedures that a traffic officer may do. For instance may he check under the bonnet of your car, or is he allowed to climb into your car without a warrant to state that he may do so. If you could be so kind as to tell me what is allowed in a roadblock or where i can find the rules of one, i would appreciate it.

Answer

Section 11(c) and (e)  of the NRTA (National Road Traffic Act) gives the officer the authority to stop any vehicle, check under the bonnet of a vehicle and sit in the vehicle for the mechanical check of the interior and drive any vehicle to test its roadworthy status. Further if he believes there is other aspects that warrants him to search impound the vehicle to a SAPS facility other than mechanical defects here the Criminal Procedure Act gives the traffic officer the powers to do so.