Bhubaneswar: Frequent incidents of violators abusing and manhandling traffic personnel have forced the police to take action with the traffic wing being asked to behave politely during collecting fines from violators here. The decision was taken in light of the recent incidents.

The police said the traffic cops had been asked not to force violators to pay penalty. "If the violator claims to not have money, we have asked our men to note down their vehicle registration number and serve them with a notice for violation," said an officer of the traffic wing.

The traffic wing has also been provided with 100 body cameras to capture videos during enforcement activities. "They have been asked to keep the body cameras on during enforcement. We have also asked them to seek help of police stations concerned if violators abuse or manhandle them," added the police official.

On September 2, police had arrested three youths for allegedly assaulting an on-duty traffic constable near Fire Station Square. The accused had assaulted the constable after he asked them to produce documents for the vehicle when they overshot the red signal at the intersection.

Similarly, the cops had registered a case against the daughter and the wife of senior IPS officer Pranabindu Acharya on the basis of a complaint filed by a woman constable following an altercation at AG Square on August 2 over a traffic violation.

The police said traffic enforcement had been an important part of policing because of frequent mishaps. Accident deaths on roads have witnessed a 47 per cent spike in the past five years. Seventy people died in accidents in 2013. The tally went up to 103 in 2017.

Deputy commissioner of police Anup Sahoo urged citizens not to indulge in any kind of misbehaviour with traffic cops. "If the violators have any allegations against the cops, they should bring the matter to our notice instead of abusing and manhandling them," he said.