The number of motorists prosecuted for drink driving on Christmas Eve across the city was 25 but out of these only two cases were reported from Park Street-Theatre Road and the surrounding neighbourhood, places dotted with night spots and watering holes that usually contribute heavily to the numbers in drink driving prosecutions during festive seasons.
The only two cases of drink driving that were reported from the stretch include one at the Loudon Street and Park Street crossing on Friday night. The drivers’ licences have been suspended, an officer of the east traffic guard said.
Several police officers posted on Park Street, JL Nehru Road, Theatre Road and AJC Bose Road said they found the majority of the motorists they stopped for breathalyser tests on Friday night tested negative for the alcohol test.
“In more than one case we found that the vehicles were not driven by their owners. This is a welcome change among those who want to party as well as avail of their own car without running
into the risk of driving in a state of intoxication,” said an officer who was posted at the Camac Street-Park Street crossing.
Earlier, cops have often complained about the type of excuses they hear when they approach a driver for a breathalyser test.
“Either most of them start by saying ‘amay chenen ami ke (do you know who I am) or by simply declaring that they are absolutely fit to drive even after stepping out of a pub and do not need to undergo an alcohol test,” said an officer.
Senior officers in Lalbazar said to curb the problem of drink driving in the Park Street area during the festivities, vigil was intensified in the area and at least seven check posts were created in and around Park Street at Dorina crossing, Exide crossing, the Camac Street-Park Street crossing, the Rawdon Street-Park Street crossing, KC Das crossing, seven-point crossing and Loudon Street-Park Street crossing for breathalyser tests.
On Friday night, prosecutions under section 185 of the motor vehicles act were reported from north Kolkata. Six cases were reported from Central Avenue, Sovabazar, Nimtala Ghat Street and Burtolla.
Apart from cases of drink driving and dangerous driving, a large number of motorists were prosecuted for driving without helmets, for carrying excess on a two-wheeler and for violating signals.
