A police officer issuing a check memo for traffic violation to a motorcyclist instead of collecting fine on the spot in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.
Traffic officials issue check memo, asking them to face the law
After a lull of 11 days, the law enforcers on Thursday resumed booking erring motorists for violations of road rules spelled out under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.
With the confusion prevailing over the steeply increased penalties, the police personnel preferred to issue check memo listing the violation and place of occurrence asking them to face the law in the court, instead of collecting the penalty from erring motorists.
The traffic police enforcement units headed by sub-inspectors were seen back on the roads after September 8 on motorcycles and jeeps near busy locations to book violators. Those motorists who ventured into the road without wearing helmet and seatbelt and used mobile phones while driving were the easy targets of the traffic police personnel. However, pillion riders who were not wearing the headgear were not booked.
“We are not collecting penalty from those found breaching the law as the confusion prevails. We are asking them to face the law in the court. The penalty amount is not mentioned in the memo, only the offence and the relevant Section are listed. We are also creating awareness and our work load has increased,” a sub-inspector, who was checking vehicles at Vellayambalam here, said.
The police were seen not sparing the inter-State motor vehicles and have started booking them for the violations. Those found using films on car windows beyond the prescribed limits of the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) were asked to tear them on the spot or face the law.
Helmet wearing
“Some are resisting and questioning the checking and were reluctant to produce the driving licence, RC, insurance, and PUC certificate. We are doing our duty. It is notable that more people have started wearing helmets as the penalty has gone up from ₹100 to ₹1,000 under the new Act,” he added.
The enforcement squads of the MVD were also back on the roads. But the officials were not that harsh with the violators as they have not been given any written directive from the higher-ups. People found indulging in speeding and overloading were booked.
A top MVD official said the squads did their routine duty of checking the vehicles and was waiting for decisions of the meeting convened by the Chief Minister on Saturday.
