We are supposed to salute when we see a car with a red beacon. How can I take action? I am a small fry. If a senior saab travels in the car, I can be suspended,” said a traffic police officer at a check-post in Patna on Thursday.

The officer shares his predicament with a number of his colleagues who allow thousands of cars with beacons on their roofs to speed past them on the city streets. Afraid of being pulled up, they don’t dare to stop them.

But owners of most of the vehicles that zigzag through Patna streets with glowing beacons are not entitled to the privilege. According to the latest communication of the state transport department based on clause III of rule no. 108 of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, only a select few are allowed to use a red or yellow beacon on their cars (see chart).

Even those allowed to use a beacon must mention the name of their department with the monogram of the state government on cars provided to them. They are not supposed to use it on their private vehicles and are not supposed to switch on their beacons when travelling for non-official purpose.

Their family members and friends are not supposed to use beacons on their cars either.

The many others who use it, like members of Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, block development officers, joint, special and additional secretaries of the government departments, university vice-chancellors, registrars, district judges, panchayat presidents, are not supposed to enjoy this benefit at all. A zilla parishad chairperson, whose post is considered to be equal to that of a cabinet minister, is also not supposed to use a beacon on his or her car.

But such rules often remain only in the book, while senior government officers and public representatives happily flout them on the streets, said a source in the traffic department. Those responsible for enforcing the rules hardly ever do so, fearing the power and the influence of the violators.

Patna traffic superintendent of police Chandrika Prasad said the cops would take action if unauthorised use of beacons were reported. “If we get a complaint, we will act on it and take immediate action against the person violating the law” he said.

Officers in his department were not so sure though.

A senior traffic police officer told The Telegraph: “According to the Motor Vehicles Rules, beacons can be used on cars only under certain provisions. But such rules are rampantly violated in Patna.”

He added: “It is unfortunate that senior officers and lawmakers are responsible for such violations. Officials of the lower judiciary, deputy collectors and many others, who are not supposed to use beacons, get their cars fitted with the special lights. A retired Bihar director-general of police, who lives in Patna, has still got a beacon and metal stars on his car. How can a traffic constable or inspector stop the vehicles of such people and penalise them? Most people know they are violating the law but they don’t care.”

Officers of the transport department have similar complaints.

“Two motor vehicle inspectors, along with traffic police, conduct drives against violations of the provisions of Motor Vehicles Act and Motor Vehicles Rules twice every month. Though these drives are not specifically against beacon lights, the enforcement officers get rude reactions and even threats if they intercept vehicles of VIPs or influential people,” said a senior transport department officer on the condition of anonymity.

He added: “Every second person pulled up in such drives claims that he has connection with some high-profile person. They threaten that the enforcement officers would have to face unpleasant music if they dare to impose penalties.”

Asked how the violation of the beacon rules had become so common, another senior officer of the transport department said no permission was required to install these on one’s car. “Beacons are easily available in the market. So, anyone can get them,” he said.

This can, however, lead to a major security problem. “Anyone, including criminals, can acquire and fit their vehicles with beacons. If they are not checked, they can enter any secured area and do whatever they want,” the officer said.

Baleshwar Sharma, the chairperson of the Bar council, blamed the state government for not checking the violation.

“Beacons on cars have become a mark of a person’s social status. So, it is not surprising that government officers not entitled to the privilege violate the norms rampantly. Members of the lower judiciary are mostly responsible for gross violation of the rule. I would like to urge Patna High Court to take strict action against such people,” he said.

Sharma added: “Even blue lights used on the ambulances are now being used by criminals to deceive the police. I think the state government is to be blamed for such violations, as they have turned a blind eye to such acts. If there is such rampant violation of a central law, one can well imagine the law and order condition in the state.”

Asked what they were doing to check the problem, state transport secretary-cum-transport commissioner (additional charge) R.K. Mahajan told The Telegraph: “Use of beacons by people who are not entitled to it is a clear violation of the Motor Vehicle Rules. The transport department issues directives from time to time to the officials concerned to keep a strict vigil on such violations. If such violations are rampant then we issue fresh orders to superintendents of police and district magistrates of all the 38 districts to conduct special drive against unauthorised use of beacons.”