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Written By murali772 - 8 November, 2008

Traffic Bangalore Congestion Police Analysis Enforcement Fines

While I do appreciate the recent drive by the traffic authorities at enforcing rules, their letting off the regular violators like the autos, BMTC buses, call centre vehicles, etc, and for much bigger offences, makes them susceptible to charges of partiality, or other forces at play. Do they want to do something about that?

Last Thursday afternoon, around 1 PM, I was headed towards Indiranagar (from Koramangala) along the Intermediate Ring road. With the road almost totally empty at that time of the day, I must have been doing about 70 KMPH. Ahead of me, I noticed what looked like a police vehicle parked to the side. And, even as I approached the vehicle, two cops jumped across my path (rather riskily), and waved me to a stop. The charge was that I was speeding beyond the 60 KMPH limit.

The police vehicle was fitted with a speed gun, and could measure my speed as I approached it. The officer in charge was very polite and showed me the reading. The fine was Rs 300/-, and in a very professional manner, he went about punching in my vehicle registration number and driving license details on to his hand-held device, and within a few seconds, produced the receipt. And, matter over!

Not quite! This is the second time my vehicle registration number, and driving license details have gone into their records (The earlier instance was at the NIMHANS junction, for jumping the signal. I was right behind a BMTC bus, and couldn't see the lights, and followed the bus across the junction. Again, a cop jumped across my path and waved me to a stop, even as the bus was let off - apparently, they are a privileged class. The fine then was just Rs 100/-). The next time I get caught, I fear, my license may be confiscated.

And, I am not the only one in the family to get challanned. My wife has also got challanned twice over the past month, for 'improper parking', paying a fine of Rs 100/- each time.

And, mind you, we both can be classified as conscientious drivers. Whatever, as a result of it all, I have become extra careful now. So much so, yesterday morning around 7 AM, I waited patiently for the green light at the Maharaja junction, even as any number of vehicles were jumping the signal all around me, and a call centre vehicle trapped behind me kept honking.

Now, while I do appreciate this drive by the traffic authorities at enforcing rules, their letting off the regular violators like the autos, BMTC buses, call centre vehicles, etc, and for much bigger offences, makes them susceptible to charges of partiality, or other forces at play. Do they want to do something about that?

Check my earlier comments on the subject at: http://praja.in/bangalore/blog/admin/2008/09/09/next-meeting-with-mr-sood-sep-20-2-pm#comment-8067

Muralidhar Rao

COMMENTS

complaint of a different kind

murali772 - 21 January, 2010 - 11:26

Posted on 'savekoramangala' y-group by VM:

Last week I got a ticket for wrong parking. The ticket was one my windshield when I came out of Koshy's. I went home, went online to Bangalore one and paid my fine by credit card and got an immediate receipt and acknowledgment. The only thing I have kind of against this was that the fine was just Rs 100. Does not really become a deterrent?

But, no arguing with cops, bribes or waiting in long queues. I did it online; but, I am sure that the Bangalore One kiosks would handle the same in non-cyber world too.
 

not disappointed

murali772 - 30 March, 2010 - 11:31

Over the past month, my wife has managed to get two notices for payment of fines of Rs 100/- each, one apparently for stopping across the zebra cross at a traffic junction, and the other for talking on phone while driving - no contest at all. So, on her behalf, and based on my good friend, VM's experience, I tried to make the payment through the net. After some three unsuccessful attempts, over three different days, I finally tried calling the 'helpline' on 25588444/ 555 today at around 4.45PM - no response. I suppose I'll have to now find a Bangalore One to make the payment.

I am not totally disappointed, since this is what one has come to expect from government departments. Technology can only provide the tools; it cannot change people's outlook.

 

You can pay fine at any traffic police station

psaram42 - 31 March, 2010 - 05:27

 Long back I was caught driving without fastening my seat belt. The officer who issued the Chelan was really apologetic as a awareness drive was on. I was really touched and agreed with the officer and thanked him for the Chelan. I had no problem to pay the fine at Jeevan bima nagar traffic police station. I got instantaneous computer printed receipt from the clerk at the JB Nagar police station.

 

I for one not go to Bangalore one or two.

gimmickry

murali772 - 31 March, 2010 - 06:10

@Psaram

Adu gottu, Sir! The question is why isn't the on-line facilty working, and for over a week? The point I am making is that the government and its agencies are largely interested only in gimmickry, and not in solving problems.

And, why did you make the cop apologetic about challaning you for not fastening your seat-belt? He was only doing his duty.

That his service will be far more useful to city if he is asked to concentrate on the more pressing issues is of course another matter, altogether.

are Bangalore traffic challans foolproof?

mbnataraj - 13 August, 2009 - 14:00

Hello Murali, Here is my experience with Bangalore Automation Centre. I am still waiting for the response. I wonder how legal is their move to suspend licences when they are just fining an owner?

In the interest of justice and fair play, only fatal accidents or DUI where the driver is caught and convicted should be taken into consideration is it not?

What is the point of convicting the owner of the vehicle for a parking or even a traffic violation? Afterall the vehicle is an inanimate object in the hands of the driver who is not caught.
There does not appear to be any legal ground for penalizing the owner for drivers mistakes.
This penalize anyone available appears to be the government's mantra for its inabilities, be it traffic , building, fire, or civil accidents. 

Here is a letter I wrote them.

13 Aug 2009,
To
The Commissioner of Police,
Bangalore.
Copy DCP traffic east.
 
Sir,
I am the Secretary Training  for Traffic Engineers and Safety Trainers.
I have regularly filed over 2000 violations with the same DCP traffic so that enforcement becomes more strict.(a sample also attached)
 As such am very familiar with the traffic laws and the need for strict enforcement. and I have trained my son and daughter in strict law abidement.
I have also been a great admirer of the great work done by the enforcement cell.
Just today I received (notices-2522386 and 2522387 dated 4 aug 2009 attached) for violation of cell phone and helmetless driving of my Son's two wheeler KA02EM1308 mentioned as motorcycle even though it is a honda  scooter, at Marappanapalya Junction on 31 Jul 2009 at 11.50 AM.
The reasons I am raising a question about the notices are
1) If my memory is correct, exactly one year ago on the same date 31 jul, 2008, exactly at the same spot- Marappanapalya junction- which spot exactly are they referring to I  am not sure as there are atleast two in Bangalores 600 square km, BEL road or
Near Navrang- we got a notice for helmetless riding. Though my son protested he had never driven anywhere without the helmet-he was on a visit from USA at that time- I over rode his protests mainly for lack or resources and time to fight these cases- and paid up the fine.
2) Now exactly one year later , we get another two notices. But this time my son is not even here. I have never seen her ride without a helmet. My daughter who uses the vehicle is even more law abiding than any of us- was at home at  around that time, we have videos of the pooja and her participation in it,  for Varamahalakshmi pooja from 9 AM onwards, in which she participated,  we had a small house warming for a small room we reconstructed that day,. Lunch followed around 12 to  1.30 pm and she was here.
I would like to see- if there is any video evidence of the violation- and the exact location details.  are there more than one KA-02-EM 1308? Since it refers the vehcile as a motorcycle? The coincidences seem too much.
While I would like to reiterate my committment to a  honkless traffic,  disciplined and enforced bangalore, I would also like to be sure  to make enforcement tamper and harassment proof.
 
Thanking you
Sincerely yours
 

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