Not knowing this may leave a big hole in your pocket
Information you cannot miss out
If you are getting caught quite often by Bangalore's traffic police, then this will be the article you cannot miss out on. From now onwards, the Traffic Police cannot catch a motorist just to examine the driving license or vehicle documents. He can catch you only if you have violated any traffic laws or if you are driving drunk.
Remember that when caught for traffic violation, the fine you pay must be limited to the violation. In other words, the police can't bloat the bill saying that you have no insurance cover or emission certificate, etc.
Many motorists do not know this. According to the State's Road Transportation Act, no policeman can slap a penalty on you just because you have no insurance or emission certificate. If you have not purchased insurance cover for your vehicle, then the police officer must issue a notice, not impose penalty. You must be given 15 days' time to purchase insurance cover and one week for obtaining the emission certificate. Days later, meet the sub-inspector at his station with the insurance cover or emission certificate, so that he will annul the charge at once. Police can fine you only if you fail to produce these documents within the stipulated period. If your vehicle is brand new, then you need not bother about obtaining the emission certificate for one full year.
In response to a question as to why policemen fine people instantly without giving them time to obtain insurance cover or emission certificate, Additional Commissioner for Traffic Praveen Sood said, "Yes, it is a mistake. People must force policemen to issue notice or complain to me at least the following day. I have suspended the Indiranagar sub-inspector for catching people for silly reasons," he said.
The best way to teach the police a lesson is filing a written complaint with their higher officials and, a week later, using the Right to Information Act (RTI) to know the action taken against them.
Remember, any question or application filed under RTI cannot be ignored and no official is bold enough to ignore the RTI Act.
Praveen Sood (Additional Commissioner for Traffic) - 080 22942276.
Source : link
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Make erring cops pay : Praveen Sood, additional commissioner of traffic (Thursday, May 14, 2009 11:08 IST)
Traffic police personnel stationed near traffic signals are only allowed to book motorists driving rashly or jumping red lights, additional commissioner of traffic Praveen Sood clarified on Wednesday. The officer made this statement following complaints of traffic police personnel stopping and checking vehicular documents in such areas, causing jams in the process.
Admitting that such exercises may result in disruption of the traffic flow, he said, "Police personnel deployed for enforcement of rules near signals are not allowed to stop vehicles for any reason other than jumping traffic lights and negligent behaviour, which includes talking on the phone while driving." Any traffic policeman, who is caught stopping vehicles for reasons other than these, is liable to be punished, he said.
Stating that he has given strict instructions to his staff to book cases of rule violations and negligent driving, Sood said that at least five enforcement cameras, apart from 80 surveillance cameras, have been installed at traffic signals to apprehend offenders.
"Persons caught on camera will be issued notices," Sood said. Strict action will also be taken against motorists who park on zebra crossings, break lane discipline and violate other rules, he added.
"But then, if motorists come across any erring policemen, they may come to my office to lodge a complaint or register it on the Bangalore City Traffic police website: http://bangaloretrafficpolice.gov.in," he said.
Source : link
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if anyone uses the landline number provided pls let me know if it is working!.. thanks!
