East Singhbhum police on Wednesday surprised scores of bikers and drivers of autos and four-wheelers who violated traffic norms at all five traffic police posts in Jamshedpur, collecting a neat Rs 80,000 as fines.
Ordered by traffic DSP Vivekanand Thakur, the crackdown started simultaneously at Sakchi, Bistupur, Jugsalai, Mango and Golmuri from 11am and lasted beyond 4pm.
An accident in Mango on Wednesday underscored the importance of the drive, as helmet-less Anil Rajak (25) sustained head injuries when hit by another biker.
Cars, SUVs, autos and two-wheelers - all came under the crackdown's purview, making it a rare occasion when traffic police caught offenders on all kinds of vehicles.
Around 20 cars, 150 bikers and 30-odd auto-rickshaws were caught during the daylong drive at different traffic posts in the city.
"Earlier, four-wheeler owners were not bothered about obeying traffic norms such as wearing seat belts. They felt traffic police only caught two-wheeler riders for not wearing helmets, or for that matter, auto drivers to check if papers were in order and vehicles had right-hand safety rods. But, any violation is a violation. No one is above the law (read Motor Vehicles Act, 1988)," the traffic DSP said.
Explaining the break-up of the Rs 80,000 haul in fines, he cited different penalty slabs.
A driver or a front-seat passenger of a four-wheeler not wearing the mandatory seat belt is fined Rs 1,000. Similarly, the driver of an auto without the mandatory right-hand side rod is asked to pay up Rs 1,000. The penalty for not wearing a helmet is Rs 300 while a two-wheeler rider who seats two or more people on pillion, is asked to cough up Rs 2,000.
Across all kinds of vehicles, if any of these papers are missing - insurance, driving licence and pollution certificate - the offender is charged Rs 1,000 for each. Drivers of commercial vehicles plying without permit or fitness certificate will be fined Rs 5,000.
Calling attention to the twofold aim of Wednesday's crackdown, traffic DSP Thakur said they wanted to create awareness among vehicle owners through penalty to streamline traffic and check crime in and around the city.
"We want to tell citizens we want you and your family to be safe on the move. Fines are a strict reminder to follow safety norms," DSP Thakur said.
A banking professional fined near Bistupur police station for not wearing a seatbelt, said the cash penalty pinched him but he realised later that it was for his own good. "I was surprised to see traffic police checking cars. But, though paying the fine pinched my pocket, it is for my good. I'll always fasten my seatbelt from now," Kaushal Kumar said.
Traffic police also kept watch on triple-riding in view of increasing crimes committed by bike-borne criminals.
"With panchayat polls on December 12 at Jamshedpur and Potka blocks near city limits, the administration wants to instill fear in hoodlums who commit crimes and flee on bikes. This apart, many mishaps occur on roads and on NH-33 due to rash driving," said a source in the traffic police unit of Jamshedpur.
DSP Thakur said they would hold more surprise drives.
