Mumbai: Aiming to instil discipline in Mumbaikars, the traffic police have started registering First Information Reports (FIRs) against the violators of traffic rules. The practice was started on October 1 last year and till mid-February the police have booked over 253 violators for breaking traffic rules.
This stern action of booking the motorist and bikers under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was initiated after the e-challans issued to violators were never paid and the violations were on a rise. Police believe, after registering FIRs against the traffic violators, they will face problems, which could act as a deterrent.
“Earlier, the traffic police would only impose a fine on a motorist or book them under the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act and let them off. We are hoping registering of FIRs will help create more discipline among the drivers,” said Dipali Masirkar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic).
These traffic violators have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for causing danger or obstructing the public way or line of navigation (Section 283). “In cases like illegal parking, driving/riding in no-entry lanes and driving on the wrong side, the violators will be taken to the nearest police station and an FIR will be registered against them,” said Masirkar.
A senior traffic police officer said, the decision to book traffic violators under the IPC was taken after several awareness drives and attempts to stop traffic violations failed. Moreover, no amount of e-challans and fines could deter these violaters, registering an FIR against them is the only option police have, to instil traffic discipline in them.
Amitesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) is of the opinion that the fear of getting caught has compelled the motorists to obey the traffic rules to some extent. Kumar said, “With a gradual awareness, the number of fatal accidents has seen a dip over the years. Constant awareness drives undertaken by several traffic divisions of the city has helped us to achieve the dip in accident fatalities.”
