A traffic police personnel uses a speed gun on a Patna road. Telegraph picture

Patna, Feb. 3: The drive of the city police against “speedsters” seems to have run out of steam, giving chain-snatchers and rowdy drivers a free run on the streets.

Using their lone speed gun radar, the city police had started applying brakes on speeding vehicles from December last year. Sources told The Telegraph that the drive lost its intensity because only five personnel were capable of using the gun. Besides the sergeant major traffic and the Traffic police station inspector, three constables have been given a proper training to use the machine.

Senior police officers, however, claimed that the speed gun was still being used regularly. Patna senior superintendent of police Alok Kumar said: “Speed checks were being conducted area-wise now. Directions have been given to use the machine on different roads.”

A police officer told The Telegraph today: “The cops had started a drive against speeding using the gadget between Hartali Mor and Dumrao Chowk along Bailey Road. But the traffic on Bailey Road has slowed down over the past one month because of the construction work of a flyover blocking parts of the Hardinge Road. So, using the equipment along the road is of no use now.”

The officer said: “The last speed check with the speed gun radar was done around 10 days ago in the Hardinge Road area. At present, the police are conducting checks on the Hardinge Road and the Airport Road.”

With the drive against speeding bikers losing intensity, pedestrians would have tough time on roads. Bike-borne chain-snatchers can also strike at will.

On Thursday, three youngsters, including a son of a deputy collector-rank official posted at Darbhanga district, were arrested. They used to move on bikes and snatch cellphones and chains.

Hotel check

Police today started a drive to find out if hotels were checking the identity of their guests while checking in.