MANGALORE, Dec 24 (Times of India): Men in khaki in Dakshina Kannada will look the other way for a grand 1,800 seconds extra after 12 am when you let your hair down this New  Year's Eve. But if you expect them to do so after this period, think again. And revellers who generally live by the dictum 'one for the road' will also have to worry about starting New Year on a lighter purse, if the impending tax on perks would not have reduced flab from it already.

SP A S Rao said the DK police would go 'slightly soft' on New Year revellers by giving them the extra 30 minutes to wind down their celebration. Rao told reporters here on Wednesday that while there will be visible police patrolling on the streets on New Year's eve, revellers can have a gala time as per law. But drunken driving is a strict no-no; Rao said adding that law will flatten the 'spirit' from over ardent devotees of Bacchus.

Keeping a hawk's eye on all these celebrations will be the state-of-the-art interceptor vehicle with traffic wing of the district police. Armed with breathalyser (alcometer), and video camera among other equipment, this vehicle will keep tabs on motorists who may gather the spirit to take on the law after their party. With the JMFC second court here recently slapping a fine of Rs 5,200 on a spirited motorist, revellers may want to think again.

Officers will be on rounds till around 3 am on New Year's day, Rao said adding that police personnel will go the extra mile to ensure that all concerned make a safe beginning to the New Year. But, he laid down the rule that any celebration will necessarily have to keep tabs on the decibel level. "Celebrations should not disturb the peace and tranquillity in the area and nuisance created by sound systems will not be tolerated," SP added.