Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Apr 29: The Regional Transport Office (RTO) of the city has come up with a new rule. They will slap a fine on drivers if they are found chewing tobacco-based products while driving.

Recently, when the RTO officials asked a truck driver to show the documents during the checking, the driver had mouth full of gutka and could not speak to the officials properly. The checking inspector, who got infuriated because of this, slapped a fine on him.

Ramesh Vernekar, an officer of RTO says that there is a rule to slap a fine of Rs 3,000 if one drives after consuming alcohol. Now, we will consider gutka or pan masala as a narcotic and slap fine if people are found to have consumed them while driving.

Vernekar says that most of the drivers justify that they chew tobacco products to prevent them from getting drowsy while driving. But he says a penalty will be slapped on such offenders also.

Vernekar says that it is not possible to book a case and produce the person in court as they have to produce the sample of the driver’s spit. So they levy a spot fine and close the case.

Social worker Ashish Kukkaje says, “Tobacco chewing is already prohibited in the campuses of educational institutions and religious centres. Mangalore RTO has taken a very good decision. This will not only prevent drivers from spoiling their own health, but also prevent them from spitting on roads. This should be applied on drivers and riders of private vehicles also.”