Jt Police Commissioner Slaps Double Fine on Traffic Inspector for Violating ‘No Parking’ Rules
Bengaluru Joint Police Commissioner B R Ravikanthe Gowda, Slaps Double Fine on Traffic Inspector for Violating ‘No Parking’ Rules
Mangaluru : In a recent order passed, Traffic police officials will have to pay double the fines set under the new Motor Vehicles Act if they break any traffic rules.The order, issued on 3 September 2019, stated that the penalty will be applicable to all traffic police officials who break traffic rules while driving official or private vehicles. Under the new law, fines for all traffic offences have been raised to curb the growing traffic problems and corruption. Following this order, a traffic police caught for jumping the red light will be fined Rs 2,000 instead of the Rs 1,000 mandated in the amended Act.
“Any authority that is empowered to enforce the provision of this Act (Motor Vehicle Act, 1988) shall, if such authority commits an offence under this Act, shall be liable for twice the penalty corresponding to that offence under this Act,” the order stated. Decision to penalize enforcing authorities higher than the general fine amount is stated under section 210 (B) of the recently implemented Act. The order further directs all Deputy Commissioners of Police of districts/units to brief and sensitize the staff working under their operational control to follow traffic rules and regulations in true letter and spirit whether they are riding/driving police vehicles or their own private vehicles.
And here we have an incident that took place in Bengaluru on Thursday 12 September 2019, where a traffic inspector, who was found violating traffic rules, was fined twice the amount normally applicable. Shivakumar, traffic inspector of Sadashivanagar police station was the violator who had to face all the embarrassment for breaking the traffic rule. It is learnt that Shivakumar had parked his police car bearing registration No KA 02 G 1577 in a ‘No Parking Zone, which was obstructing smooth movement of vehicles.
A few commuters who suffered inconvenience brought the matter to the notice of senior police officers. A patrolling police team visited the spot and confirmed the violation, following which Joint Police Commissioner (traffic division) of Bengaluru City, B R Ravikanthe Gowda, made no hesitation, in imposing a fine of Rs 2,000 in place of 1,000 on the police inspector for breaking rules in spite of being responsible for enforcing the road rule against Inspector Shivakumar and his driver D S Nagendra.
“It does not end with the fine. An inquiry has been ordered and based on that report, disciplinary action will be taken,” Ravikanthe Gowda said. Referring to Section 210 B of the revised Motor Vehicles Act, he said that officials who are empowered to enforce traffic rules and those who violate them will have to pay double the penalty.
