Traffic police conduct a checking drive in Dhanbad on Thursday. (Gautam Dey)

Wear blue or be ready to face the blues, traffic police are telling auto drivers of Dhanbad.

Aimed at reining in rogue drivers reluctant to follow the dress code introduced two years ago, the traffic department of Dhanbad has launched an extensive checking drive with the help of auto drivers’ association from Wednesday. Till now, over 100 drivers have been caught and fined for not wearing the all-azure uniform besides flouting other safety rules like absence of rods on the right side and missing numberplates.

While 55 drivers were taken to task during checks at Randhir Verma Chowk, Puja Talkies Chowk and Saraidhela Thana Chowk on Wednesday, over 50 faced the music near Dhansar police station on Thursday.

Fines ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 500 have been slapped on them. The drive will continue for at least a week.

“The drive has been launched in view of a meeting held by SP Hemant Toppo with office-bearers of auto drivers’ and auto owners’ associations on September 30. The SP had made it clear that the drivers would have to follow the dress code as it makes them easily identifiable,” DSP traffic Ashok Kumar Tirkey said.

General secretary of Dhanbad Zila Auto Mahasangh Chotan Singh said they were extending cooperation to the personnel. “Fifty per cent of our drivers have already started wearing sky blue shirt and navy blue pant prescribed for them. The remaining will follow the dress code once purchase of the uniforms is completed,” he added.