Mira-Bhayandar: The traffic department (Kashimira unit) attached to the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) police booked 20 motorists (two and four-wheeler drivers) for drunken driving in the twin-city on the occasion of Holi (Rang Panchmi) on Friday.
A significant drop in the number of drunk driving cases was noticed this year owing to preventive measures like barricading areas prone to notorious incidents and significant police presence all over the twin-city. 34 drunk driving cases were registered during Holi in 2024.
Several bikers were charged for other vehicular irregularities including triple-seat and helmet-less riding. Armed with sophisticated global positioning system (GPS)-enabled breath-analysers systems, traffic personnel were stationed at more than a dozen checkpoints across the twin-city. This apart from patrolling by cops from the local police station.
The breath analyzers not only pinpoint locations but also click photographs of suspects and immediately hand out print out receipts with information about alcohol consumption levels. After verifying that the motorists were drunk, the police impounded their vehicles in accordance with section 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 which deals with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The cases will be presented before the court for further action. The punishment for a first offense includes imprisonment for up to six months, or a fine of up to ₹10,000, or both. The punishment increases for repeat offenders and can lead to suspension of driving license.
