Four motorists were prosecuted on Park Street on Christmas Eve because one or more occupants in each of the four cars were standing with their torsos jutting out through the open sunroof.
Police said they have prosecuted the drivers under section 184 of the Motor Vehicle Act that deals with “dangerous driving”.
Several motorists said they were caught unawares. They did not know that looking out of the sunroof in a moving car was an offence.
Most of Kolkata doesn’t know that.
“If it is an offence, why are such cars being manufactured at all? How do we know that it is an offence to look out of the sunroof of my own car?” said a resident of Bhowanipore who was also on Park Street on Friday night and saw a car owner being prosecuted for this alleged offence.
The police said the move to prevent people from looking out of the sunroof was for the safety of the occupants of the car.
“Although there is no specific mention about restrictions on sunroofs, section 184(f) of the Motor Vehicles Act can be interpreted in a way by cops to prevent an accident,” said a senior police officer.
Another officer of the traffic department posted in Park Street said people standing and looking out of sunroofs could injure themselves because of so many wires dangle overhead.
“It is not safe at all. We are only trying to prevent accidents,” the officer said.
Car occupants standing through the sunroof could also be injured if the driver has to press the brake suddenly, the officer added.
An officer who was deployed at Park Street said all the four vehicles that were prosecuted for dangerous driving on Friday night were allegedly driving in a “zigzag” manner endangering other vehicles.
Dangerous driving attracts a penalty of Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000 for second and subsequent offences.
Another motorist said it would be helpful if there were signages announcing if this was an offence.
“Just like a speed limit sign helps us, it would be easier for those who have a car with a sunroof, if there are public display boards about the rules and restrictions we are expected to follow,” said an Alipore resident.
Several models of four wheelers that come with retractable roofs are available these days.
The facility allows light and a view of sky from inside the car.
