Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 23: Nowadays, police personnel in rural areas of the district have stopped imposing fines for traffic violators. They do catch hold of the culprits, but allow them to go after giving them sane advice. This initiative has been undertaken within the limits of 16 police stations spread over rural belt of the district.

The violators have got this reprieve on account of humanitarian approach undertaken by district superintendent of police (SP), Bhushan Gulabrao Borase. He has orally instructed all the station house officers to spare the traffic violators of fine because of shortage of small denomination currency notes post demonetization exercise that has already been causing problems for them. This relief however will be purely temporary.

The police have the right to book offenders for not wearing helmets, over speeding, not fastening the seat belt, parking of vehicle in no parking zones, speaking on cellphone when driving, not possessing driving licence, violation of traffic signals etc . As per the advice of the SP, police are now stopping the vehicles, and sending them away after warning them against breaking rules. In case of grave violation of traffic rules, they get bonds executed duly mentioning the vehicle number.

File Photo

The district police department officials say that they took this initiative to help the people, ,who are facing acute shortage of small denomination currency notes at present. There is shortage of particularly Rs 100 notes, and most of the traffic fines are in this range. Insisting on payment of fine might create problem in their daily lives, because of which the police have toed a soft line now, they explain. Some people had requested the police department and SP to spare them for the present, and the department took a favourable decision, they explain.

Bantwal deputy superintendent of police, Raveesh C R, said that in tune with oral instructions received from SP, the traffic violators are being sent off with a warning now. He said that the officials will begin to register cases after the SP withdraws the current instruction.

SP, Bhushan Gulabrao Borase, said that he has asked policemen not to collect cash fines because of shortage of currency notes now. He said that on humanitarian grounds, this concession has been extended for ten days, and depending on the supply position of currency notes, further action would be taken.

Some people who were interviewed, lavishly praised the police for understanding the problems of the common people and contributing in their own way towards mitigating the current problem of currency shortage.