Cops Crack Down on Drunk Driving- 21 Vehicles Seized, 91 Cases Filed

Cops Crack Down on Drunk Driving- 21 Vehicles Seized, 91 Cases Filed

Mangaluru: It was not a good night driving home for a few revelers after partying at the local pubs/lounges/bars, where quite a few drunk drivers were busted by the Mangaluru Traffic Police, who had set up check points at prominent spots in the City. Following on the many drunk driving accidents taking place, and also the one drunk driving incident which happened recently which took away the life of an innocent auto-rickshaw driver near Ambedkar Circle, Deputy Commissioner of police-Hanumatharaya took a stern initiative to crack down on drivers/riders operating their vehicles drunk, within the police commissionerate limits.

During the entire Saturday night of crack down on motorists driving/riding drunk, it is revealed that the police confiscated 21 vehicles, and had booked 91 DUI (Driving Under the Influence) of alcohol cases. This vehicle check drive carried out by the city police has revealed that drunken driving is widespread among motorists and a major cause of fatal accidents at night. Police teams were deployed to check vehicles driven by inebriate drivers in many parts of the city. This action was taken by the traffic department authorities, after the Friday phone-in programme, where many callers had complained about reckless and high-speed driving by drivers under the influence of alcohol.

Funny thing is that when all these young and old drunk revelers were stopped for DUI check, everyone suddenly had become very polite to the traffic police officers and constables during their crackdown on drunken driving. The familiar refrain of offenders was, “Sorry Sir, we will not repeat this mistake again.” One young intoxicated driver was heard saying, “Sir, I will not repeat the mistake. In future, I will abide by the traffic rules, I won’t drink and drive. I kindly request you to give back my driving licence.”

Another offender said: “I apologize for what I have done. Give me a chance to rectify my mistake. In future, I will abide by the rules and not repeat the mistake.” A few other violators come out with weird reasons-like this one from yet another drunk driver – “Before I consumed liquor, my car driver had accompanied me. Due to urgent work he had to go to his hometown. I had to drive the vehicle without any option. I request you to forgive my mistake and release my seized vehicle/driving licence.”

However, polite requests from offenders didn’t stop the law enforcement officers from slapping them with hefty fines, confiscating their DLs and in some cases, their vehicles. The sight of policemen stopping vehicles at midnight seemed to have caught drunk drivers unawares. Breath alcohol analyzers were used to prove intoxication levels of those who tried to argue that they were not drunk. Many of these drunk drivers were from out of town who had come to the city for the weekend social spree. Police said in some cases vehicles were borrowed from others just to visit far off places to consume liquor and get a ‘kick’ out of it.

In the meantime, locals have applauded the action taken by the police and feel that accidents which occur at night might come down drastically if police conduct such operations at least once a week in this region- and not once a month or a YEAR? Deputy commissioner of police, Hanumantharaya, speaking to Team Mangalorean said, ” This drive against drunken driving is to eradicate drunk driving menace, and we plan on such checks constantly to control drunk driving. There is a need to take stern action against these offenders as they pose a threat to the lives of other people when they drive under the influence of alcohol. We are also prohibiting people from applying for fresh DLs once their licences are cancelled. A show cause notice is served against offenders. Once they appear before the authorities and submit their version, we take action. For first offenders, DLs are suspended for a period ranging from 30 days to three months. But there is no escape for repeat offenders. Their DLs are cancelled and they will be prohibited from applying for fresh DLs,”.

So all you party animals, heading back home drunk after a few cocktails and cold-ones at your favorite watering-holes, think twice before you sit behind the steering wheel of your vehicle or getting ready to start your bike and speed off- ’cause the cops will be looking for you and ready to nail you for speeding, rash driving and above all, drunk driving. And remember, YOU BOOZE, YOU LOOSE?

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