New Delhi: It started as early as 6 am. With the high court order on increased fines kicking in from Monday, traffic cops had a field day prosecuting offenders. By afternoon, the policemen had registered a marginal increase in prosecutions, focusing on violations such as tinted glasses and the use of mobiles while driving — offences that had caught the court’s attention.

In all, 4,571 violators were prosecuted till 2 pm and the operation had netted Rs 17,64,100 in challan fees. Though the number of prosecutions was not really high — the daily average is about 8,000 — there was a steep increase in the fine collected in a single day.

‘‘The fine collected on Monday included an additional Rs 500 on every challan issued, so the total amount was much higher than normal. There was no major increase in the number of vehicles prosecuted as this is directly related to the number of policemen on roads, which remains the same,’’ said Qamar Ahmed, joint commissioner of police (traffic).

The high court order had only reiterated existing traffic rules which were being violated. The difference on Monday was that violators had to cough up a much higher amount and their licences were punched. Licences of about 1,333 errant drivers were punched; the police also impounded 220 vehicles.

The focus of the enforcement drive, which continued till 11 pm, were tinted glasses, use of cellphones by drivers, redlight jumping, driving without helmet, stop-line violations and enforcing the SC guidelines for buses. More than 2,500 traffic cops, including senior officers, were posted across the city. Officials said even using the handsfree option on mobiles is illegal.

TRAFFIC | PROSECUTIONS

• Vehicles prosecuted 4,571
• Amount collected from challans Rs 17,64,100
• Licences punched 1,333
• Vehicles impounded 220
• 2,500 traffic cops were on the road from 6 am to 11 pm

Source: TOI(Delhi-epaper)

Entry Filed under: Delhi Traffic News