Denials would not come handy for motorists if they break traffic regulations anymore, as police are planning to record violations and fine offenders.
The police are chalking out a plan to deal with challenges from motorists when it comes to penalising them for wrongful parking, the most common of the traffic violations in the city. The vehicle will be recorded on video as well as the area it is parked in before the driver is fined.
Police officers believe this will counter the motorists’ accusations of bribery or unjust fines. Sources told The Telegraph the plan, which is being finalised now, would be implemented by month-end.
An officer said: “There are many types of traffic offences, the most common being wrongful parking. This is a menace in Patna and motorists either park in no-parking zones or anywhere they please, leading to unnecessary snarls and roadblocks. In majority of the cases, the motorists start arguing with the personnel on duty claiming they had not parked in the wrong place. This happens mostly when the fines are levied in absentia. They throw their strong contacts at the personnel and even complain to senior officers of being wrongfully fined. They also allege that the police asked for money. The decision to record the violations on video is an attempt to put a stop to all this.”
According to the initial plan, the officer said, a short film will be made on a vehicle found in a no-parking zone. “The footage will include the vehicle, its registration plate and the area. Once this is done, the fine will be imposed — if the driver is present on the spot or is in absentia. Through this, the police will have proof that the fine was not imposed unjustly. The footage can be shown to the motorist if he or she questions or challenges the penalty and to any senior police officer if the motorist lodges a complaint in the matter,” the officer said.
Traffic constables on duty appreciated the move of their seniors.
“We have arguments with motorists everyday. The four-wheeler drivers don’t want to pay the fines and keep on arguing and throwing names of influential people at us to get out of the muddle. Some try to be intimidating too. There have been times they have complained to senior officers and we have had to face the music. The plan to record the traffic violations on video sounds good. But the senior officers should also cooperate with us for the plan to work,” a traffic constable said on condition of anonymity.
At present, the fine for improper or obstructive parking rests at Rs 100 according to the Motor Vehicles Act. But once a motorist is stopped for being fined, the vehicle’s documents are checked, as is the pollution certificate. If discrepancies are found, the fine amount keeps on increasing. The officer said: “The motorists are peeved because of this and start throwing baseless allegations at the personnel and waste time. The move, the police hope, will stop all this.”
